Jeeniraj "JJ" Thevasagayam has been appointed the new executive director of the New Canadians Centre in Peterborough effective September 2, 2025. (Supplied photo)
A Canadian newcomer is the new executive director of the New Canadians Centre (NCC).
The Peterborough-based non-profit charitable organization that supports immigrants, refugees, and other newcomers in the Kawarthas region has announced that Jeeniraj “JJ” Thevasagayam will be the organization’s new executive director, effective September 2.
Thevasagayam, who was most recently manager of housing at the City of Peterborough, was hired after an extensive search process that began in April and resulted in NCC receiving almost 300 applications from candidates across the country, according to a media release from NCC.
Advertisement - content continues below
Along with his experience at the City of Peterborough, Thevasagayam has served on many boards and committees, including locally for NCC and the YMCA.
His new role as executive director at NCC has special significance given his background as a newcomer refugee.
According to the release, Thevasagayam came to Canada with his family when they fled civil war in Sri Lanka and grew up in the community of Regent Park in downtown Toronto. As a a newcomer refugee, he faced numerous challenges, including homelessness and precarious housing situations, and was supported by non-profit organizations with missions similar to that of NCC.
Advertisement - content continues below
“We are thrilled to welcome JJ as our new executive director,” NCC board chair Kim Blackwell ates in the release. “His extensive experience, commitment, and knowledge of the community and the NCC community make him the perfect fit for this role.”
Thevasagayam replaces Andy Cragg, who left NCC at the end of June after almost six years leading the organization.
“As someone whose journey as a newcomer was shaped by the kind of support NCC provides, this opportunity holds deep personal meaning,” Thevasagayam says. “I understand the challenges many newcomers face and the difference that a warm welcome, meaningful support, and strong community connections can make.”
Advertisement - content continues below
“I am committed to building on NCC’s strong foundation and expanding its impact across Peterborough, the Kawarthas, and Northumberland County,” Thevasagayam adds.
“With the support of staff, the board, volunteers, and our community partners, I look forward to working together to build inclusive and vibrant communities where everyone has the opportunity to thrive and contribute to the fabric of Canadian society.”
Until Thevasagayam begins in his new role, NCC’s director of client services Marisa Kaczmarczyk will serve as interim executive director.
Six people have been seriously injured following a head-on crash on County Road 28 near Bewdley early Monday morning (July 7).
At around 5:30 a.m., Northumberland County Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) along with Northumberland Emergency Medical Services and Port Hope Fire and Emergency Services responded to a serious collision between two passenger sedans on County Road 28 north of Bewdley.
Both drivers of the two vehicles, along with four passengers in one of the vehicles, received serious to life-threatening injuries.
Advertisement - content continues below
All six victims have been transported to various trauma centres with the assistance of Ornge air ambulance services.
County Road 28 between Rice Lake Drive and Hannah Road will be closed until police have documented and cleared the scene.
The cause of the crash remains under investigation.
Vintage and classic cars and motorcycles will be on display at Lang Pioneer Village Museum in Keene during the 28th annual Transportation Day Car & Motorcycle Show on July 13, 2025. (Photo: Heather Doughty Photography)
Vintage and classic car and motorcycle enthusiasts are gearing up for the 28th Annual Transportation Day Car & Motorcycle Show at Lang Pioneer Village Museum in Keene on Sunday (July 13).
From 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. rain or shine, enthusiasts from across Ontario will be showcasing their antique and classic cars and vintage motorcycles throughout the historic village.
Hop on board a horse-drawn wagon ride or take a leisurely stroll to explore the show, where you can vote for your favourite car and motorcycle. Over 25 trophies will be awarded, including the coveted People’s Choice and Lang’s Choice awards.
Advertisement - content continues below
While the show is a highlight of the day, Transportation Day has even more to offer. You can learn more about how transportation has changed over the years and the roles various trades have played in the creation of transportation methods.
There will also be a variety of historic demonstrations including rope making demonstrations, Jacquard loom weaving demonstrations, log hand hewing demonstrations, Grist Mill demonstrations, and more.
Take in a tongue-in-cheek suffrage meeting at the Town Hall during set demonstration times, and check out the displays by the Peterborough County City Paramedics and by the Peterborough Model Railroaders.
Advertisement - content continues below
For kids, there will be school lessons on pioneer travel and transportation, schoolyard games and races, a corn sandbox, a craft activity at the Ayotte Cabin, and a colouring contest in the Great Hall or the Peterborough County Agricultural Heritage Building, where DJ Del and Jenny Jams will be in the courtyard spinning tunes from the 1950s to 1980s.
Food options (for an additional fee) include freshly popped kettle corn from Ben’s Kettle Corn, BBQ items from the Keene Lions Club food truck (cash only), snow cones and lemonade from Snowie Canada, fresh Empire Cheese curds in the Cheese Factory, and refreshments and sweet treats at the Keene Hotel.
Admission costs $17 for adults, $12 for students and seniors 60 and older, and $9 for children and youth ages five to 14, with free admission for children under five. Family admission is also available for $5 and includes two adults and up to four children and youth. Visitors may purchase admission at the gates or in advance online.
Advertisement - content continues below
If you’re a classic car or motorcycle enthusiast and want to display your vehicle, participant registration runs from 8 a.m. to noon (gates open at 7 a.m.) on show day. Space is limited and is available on a first-come first-served basis. The $10 registration fee includes admission into the village. The first 200 vehicles to enter will receive a complimentary dash plaque as a souvenir of their participation.
Other special events at Lang Pioneer Village Museum this summer include a Corn Roast on Sunday, August 17. Outside of special events, the museum’s summer hours of operation are from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Wednesdays to Sundays until August 31.
Cobourg's homeless shelter at 310 Division Street opened in late 2024 with a warming/cooling room and laundry, washroom and shower, and dining facilities on the first floor, 35 emergency shelter beds on the second and third floors, and 10 transitional housing units on the fourth floor. (Photo: Northumberland County)
Northumberland County is reaching out to the business community for representatives to serve on a committee related to the emergency homeless shelter and its operations at 310 Division St. in downtown Cobourg.
The county is accepting applications until Thursday, July 31 from those interested in joining the Community Liaison Committee (CLC) which, according to a media release, is intended to support “the successful delivery of modernized homeless shelter services.”
This particular recruitment effort is focused specifically on strengthening representation from the local business community, ensuring direct representation in addition to the current participation by a business owner on behalf of the Cobourg Downtown Business Improvement Area.
Advertisement - content continues below
The original business representative stepped down in May, and the county is looking to fill the vacancy, explained Kate Campbell, director of communications for Northumberland County.
“This is an opportunity for a business owner to provide direct input that will help shape how shelter services continue to integrate into the fabric of our community,” Campbell told kawarthaNOW.
“This is a chance to share perspective, raise concerns, and contribute to balanced solutions that support both the health of the business sector and the well-being of vulnerable residents.”
Advertisement - content continues below
This second round of recruitment for the CLC, which follows an initial call for members in fall 2024, seeks to strengthen the committee by welcoming additional members to bring their perspectives and experiences.
The 310 Division St. shelter, owned by the county and operated by Transition House, offers 35 emergency shelter spaces and 10 transitional housing units to help improve pathways out of homelessness for people in need. The facility opened in late 2024 and targets increasing access to shelter services for couples, 2SLGBTQ+ community members, individuals with pets, and people with disabilities.
Up until recently, a drop-in warming room and cooling centre was operating at the shelter. Northumberland County decided to shutter that service in response to numerous concerns expressed by local business owners and residents.
Advertisement - content continues below
Some of these concerns were described during a public town hall meeting hosted by the Town of Cobourg on June 17. The following day during its regular council meeting, Northumberland County council passed a motion directing changes to the operation of the emergency shelter.
Those changes included the closure of the ground-floor warming/cooling hub by July 4, the development of options for relocating the warming/cooling hub to another location in the county, and the preparation of a report for the July 30 social services committee meeting outlining the process and timelines to transition the shelter to a higher-barrier model focused on people with low-to-moderate complexity of needs.
As for the committee, it is comprised of approximately 20 volunteers who represent shelter neighbours, community members, people experiencing homelessness and housing insecurity, local businesses, and faith organizations. The CLC also includes representation from Cobourg Police Service, town, county and shelter staff, and community partners who work closely with the shelter and its clients.
The committee is an advisory body, providing guidance and feedback to help the county and Transition House “make informed decisions for the shelter’s successful integration within the neighbourhood and community,” according to the release. The CLC meets once a month for members to share information, discuss ideas, and collectively problem-solve concerns.
Advertisement - content continues below
While the county said all community members can apply to join the CLC, Northumberland is currently seeking representatives specifically from the local business community, with preference given to business representatives from within a 500-metre radius of 310 Division St.
People interested in applying to join the CLC must be available to volunteer at least two-and-a-half hours per month to attend committee meetings and review materials. The county invites people to complete an expression of interest form by July 31 to begin their application process. All applicants will be required to attend an information session and interview, which will be scheduled at mutually convenient time.
Blue Rodeo co-founder and frontman Jim Cuddy and his band will perform a free-admission concert at Peterborough Musicfest in Del Crary Park on July 5, 2025, featuring songs from his six-album solo career as well as selected Blue Rodeo tunes. (Photo: Christopher Gentle)
If you’re looking for the true measure of musical creative genius, look no further than an artist who has enjoyed a remarkable career as a member of a highly acclaimed ensemble and has fashioned a successful solo career.
More specifically, look no further than Jim Cuddy. Back in 1984 in New York City, the Toronto-born singer-songwriter, in collaboration with guitarist Greg Keelor and keyboardist Bob Wiseman, founded the roots rock band Blue Rodeo.
From the its first show in 1985 at The Rivoli in Toronto to its 2014 awarding of the Governor General’s Performing Arts Award, with a truckload of Juno Awards in between, Blue Rodeo was, and in many ways remains, the poster child of Canadian music success stories.
Advertisement - content continues below
Peterborough Musicfest presents The Jim Cuddy Band
When: Wednesday, July 9, 2025 at 8 p.m. Where: Del Crary Park (100 George St. N., Peterborough) How much: Free admission
Bring your own lawn chairs or blankets (lawn chairs are available to rent). VIP seating available for sponsors. No smoking, alcohol, or pets permitted. There’s no public parking at Del Crary Park, but there’s neighbourhood street parking nearby and ample parking in downtown Peterborough.
But for all his success as a performer and as a songwriter in partnership with Keelor, Cuddy yearned to get his music out there as a solo act, and did just that in 1998 with the release of his debut album All In Time. Now, five solo albums later, Cuddy remains a tour de force on his own while retaining his status as an integral member of the band that he co-founded all those years ago.
On Wednesday, July 9 at Del Crary Park in downtown Peterborough, the artist who continues to enjoy the best of two music worlds will front The Jim Cuddy Band at Peterborough Musicfest. As always, admission to the 8 p.m. concert is free.
While he’s arguably best known and recognized for co-writing and singing Blue Rodeo’s hit songs, such as “Try,” “Lost Together,” and “Head Over Heels,” Cuddy”s debut solo album capitalized on that track record, earning gold status for sales on the strength of the singles “All In Time” and “Disappointment.”
VIDEO: “While I Was Waiting” – Jim Cuddy
Cuddy didn’t rush to release a follow-up album, but when he did in 2006, The Light That Guides You Home proved well worth the wait, again earning gold status.
From 2011 to 2019, three more albums — Skyscraper Soul, Constellation, and Countrywide Soul — more than held their own. Now, five years after the release of the latter, Cuddy is back with more new music in the form of All The World Fades Away, his sixth solo album which debuted just more than a year ago.
It should surprise no one that Cuddy has won just about every accolade available to Canadian musicians. Having won best male vocalist honours at the 1999 Juno Awards, he came home with the 2007 Juno Award for adult alternative album of the year for The Light That Guides You Home.
Advertisement - content continues below
In 2013, alongside his friend and longtime collaborator Greg Keelor, Cuddy was appointed an officer of the Order of Canada. Both were also inducted to the Canadian Songwriters Hall of Fame just last year, an act that begged the question “What took you so long?”
While he has a long way to go to match the 16 albums Blue Rodeo has released and the 11 Juno Awards the band’s creative output has reaped, Cuddy as a solo artist has clearly made quality a priority over quantity. What’s more, according to a 2024 media release from Warner Music Canada about his latest record, Cuddy’s goal as a songwriter has shifted.
“When Blue Rodeo started, I wrote songs with the intention of playing them live,” reflects Cuddy. “But as things have gone along, I write them more as short stories. That kind of evolution takes time and concentration, which I enjoyed with this record.”
VIDEO: “Back Here Again” – Jim Cuddy
“You sort of enter a dream state when you begin writing, and I’ve begun to wonder why some images have stayed with me over the years and others haven’t,” Cuddy says. “So yes, this album is about looking back. I tried to make sure the record is affirming of life as it is now, reflecting how much I like where I’m at today. It’s just … surveying.”
Having paused work on All The World Fades Away to tour and record with Blue Rodeo, Cuddy got his band together in the summer of 2023 to finish the project. Close by, as he has often been, was guitarist Colin Cripps, who co-produced the album with Tim Vesely.
“Colin and I have worked together from the very beginning, so that’s very symbiotic. And Tim, who added percussion and vocals across the record, is brilliant. He helped us decide musical questions.”
Advertisement - content continues below
Asked in what section of a record shop All The World Fades Away should take up residence, he answers “Wherever John Prine is filed” — referring to the late American country-folk singer-songwriter who is widely cited as one of the most influential songwriters of his generation,
“There’s something perfect about his songs. They have a straightforward, harmonic structure and are told simply, but they have impact. That’s what I’m going for too.”
Wednesday night’s concert will be preceded at 6:30 p.m. by a performance by Cale Crowe, an indie rock singer-songwriter from Alderville First Nation, under the Cogeco tent near the George Street entrance to Del Crary Park. He’s appearing as part of Musicfest’s new Future Sound Series featuring the talents of nine local performers this summer.
VIDEO: “Scars” – Jim Cuddy
Peterborough Musicfest is presenting 16 free-admission concerts during its 38th season, each staged on Wednesday and Saturday nights until Saturday, August 16th.
Overseen by executive director Tracey Randall and staff, a board of directors, and numerous volunteers, Peterborough Musicfest’s stated mission remains “to provide diverse, affordable live music to enrich cultural and economic prosperity in our community.”
For more information on this concert or the 2025 season, visit www.ptbomusicfest.ca or phone the Peterborough Musicfest office at 705-755-1111.
kawarthaNOW is proud to be a headline sponsor of Peterborough Musicfest’s 2025 season.
Kawartha Lakes Mayor Doug Elmslie (far left) participates in the raising of the Pride flag at Kawartha Lakes City Hall in Lindsay on July 8, 2024. Kawartha Lakes Pride kicks off its 10th anniversary Pride Week in 2025 with a flag-raising ceremony on Monday, July 7 at 10 a.m., with the week's celebrations concluding on Saturday in Lindsay with Pride in the Park in Victoria Park followed by a Pride After Dark party at The Wings World. (Photo: Kawartha Lakes Pride)
While June’s Pride Month is over, the rainbow flag will be flying for another week in July in Kawartha Lakes.
Pride Week in the Kawartha Lakes runs from Monday, July 7 to Sunday, July 13. There are several events throughout the week aimed at celebrating the 2SLGBTQIA+ community, and promoting inclusivity, diversity, and unity.
Kawartha Lakes Pride organizer Rylee Rae is looking forward to this year’s events, especially with Pride 2025 representing the group’s 10th anniversary.
Advertisement - content continues below
“I am most excited to see love prevail within our communities, at every level and in so many ways,” Rae told kawarthaNOW. “We are here, we are queer, and we are thriving.”
The week kicks off with a Pride flag-raising ceremony at 10 a.m. on Monday at Kawartha Lakes City Hall at 26 Francis St. in Lindsay and culminates with the annual Pride in the Park celebration on Saturday, which returns this year from Fenelon Falls to its original location in Lindsay’s Victoria Park in honour of Kawartha Lakes Pride’s 20th anniversary.
“We usually get over 1,500 guests through the day of the event, but we have lots of community supporters as well,” Rae said. “Being partnered next to the Lindsay Farmers’ Market will also drive up our attendance, I suspect.”
“Although Kawartha Lakes Pride has been under new management (for) the past few years, we love to stay true to our name and navigate this initiative throughout the Kawarthas,” Rae said. “The love we felt from Fenelon Falls in previous years has been magical, but we insist on bringing our events to all Kawartha communities. Guiding our initiatives based on community involvement and support directly impacts where we show up.”
Events during Pride Week 2025 in Kawarthas Lakes. (Graphic: Kawartha Lakes Pride)
Reflecting on its accomplishments of the past year, Rae said Kawartha Lakes Pride has connected with several local organizations, including educational organization Ampere Association, which now holds space monthly for ongoing Pride events.
Rae added that the Lindsay and District Chamber of Commerce has “helped us elevate our organization as a true community partner. Kawartha Lakes Pride has also made other important connections with various groups including the United Way and the Edwin Binney Community Garden and Education Centre, and Community Care.
The Kawartha Lakes Public Library will be taking part in Saturday’s Pride in the Park celebration, offering a tent with activities for children, information on library services with a special focus on the Pride collection, a quiet reading area with children’s books for families to enjoy, and simple rainbow flag face painting for all ages.
Advertisement - content continues below
The full agenda of events for Kawartha Lakes Pride Week 2025 is listed below.
Monday, July 7
Zumba Dance Party at 7 p.m. at She Shed Fitness (11 Wychwood Cres., Fenelon Falls).
Tuesday, July 8
Drag Queen Story Time with Betty Baker and Butch at 10:30 a.m. at Kindred Coffee (148 Kent St. W., Lindsay).
Pooch Pride Walk at 5:30 p.m. at Adelaide Clinic (1 Adelaide St. N., Lindsay).
Advertisement - content continues below
Wednesday, July 9
Queer Trivia from 7 to 9 p.m. at Pie Eyed Monk (8 Cambridge St. N., Lindsay). Register at KLPtrivia.eventbrite.com.
Thursday, July 10
Color Me Proud from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Tradewinds Toys & Gifts (110 Kent St. W., Lindsay).
Friday, July 11
Field to Fabulous: A Runway of Inclusion from 3 to 7 p.m. at Edwin Binney Community Garden and Education Centre (50 Mary St. W., Lindsay).
Advertisement - content continues below
Saturday, July 12
Pride in the Park from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. at Victoria Park (190 Kent St. W., Lindsay).
Pride After Dark at 8 p.m. at The Wings World (34 Lindsay St. S., Lindsay). Tickets for the 19+ event are available at KLPAfterDark25.Eventbrite.com.
For more information about Kawartha Lakes Pride and for updates about Pride Week events, visit facebook.com/KawarthaLakesPride.
Michael Beauclerc performing with the Beau Dixon Band at Peterborough Musicfest in July 2024. The professional drummer is launching Mad Music School in his hometown of Lakefield on July 7, 2025. The new school offers expert-led private and group lessons for beginner and seasoned musicians of all ages, including instruction in drums, hand percussion, piano, guitar, bass, and ukulele with vocals to come. (Photo: Conor Murphy)
Thanks to professional drummer Michael Beauclerc, the Village of Lakefield now has its own music school.
With a soft-launch celebration on Sunday (July 6) prior to the official opening on Monday, Mad Music School provides beginner and seasoned musicians of all ages with expert-led group and private lessons to develop their skills, ignite their passion, and build their confidence.
The Lakefield-raised Beauclerc found his love for percussion at the age of three on a Muppets drum set, and has since developed a decades-long career spanning intimate jazz clubs and festivals attended by thousands.
Advertisement - content continues below
Share on Bluesky
In addition to being the music director for The Bowie Lives featuring Peterborough vocalist Michael Bell and being the executive director and co-founder of the Canadian Drumline Association, Beauclerc has been teaching — and instilling a passion for — drumming out of his home for decades.
When, just over a month ago, his brother mentioned an available space next to his mixed martial arts gym in Juliann’s Plaza at 3347 Lakefield Road, Beauclerc jumped at the chance to take his teaching out of his home.
“There’s almost 3,000 people in Lakefield and nowhere (here) to take lessons and nowhere north of here to take lessons,” says Beauclerc. “So it has a lot of opportunity, and we’re still very close to Peterborough.”
Taylor Flynn holds a Bachelor of Music degree from Wilfrid Laurier University and brings more than 10 years of teaching experience to her new role as a piano instructor at Lakefield’s Mad Music School. Originally from Scotland, Joshua Dorman will be leading guitar and bass lessons at the school. He has played guitar for more than 10 years and has also spent time playing the ukulele, tenor saxophone, soprano clarinet, bassoon, and bass clarinet. (Photos courtesy of Michael Beauclerc)
Mad Music School is an extension of Mad Sound Dynamics, the parent company for Beauclerc’s internationally sold innovative products which include original books on drumming exercises, and the Mad Practice Pad and Mad Cymbal Shield.
At Mad Music School, Beauclerc will be teaching drums and hand percussion (including conga and djembe) and beginner ukulele, while Taylor Flynn will use her music degree and 10 years of teaching experience to offer piano lessons.
Joining them to teach guitar and bass is Joshua Dorman, who can play a range of instruments and has been involved in a number of community groups, including performing with Kawartha Youth Orchestra and acting as music director at Camp Quin-Mo-Lac.
Advertisement - content continues below
Share on Bluesky
Beauclerc plans to have a vocal instructor working out of Mad Music School soon as well.
Lessons will be open to musicians of all ages, and Beauclerc hopes to attract some of the growing seniors’ population in the region.
“There’s so much research now about how much it can help cognitive function for our aging population, especially when learning songs because they have to learn when the chorus comes and how many verses are happening and (if this is ) the bridge yet,” Beauclerc explains. “That type of cognitive function is really, really helpful for aging populations.”
On Sunday (July 6) from 10 a.m. to noon, Beauclerc is hosting a family-friendly soft-opening celebration featuring live instructor demos, a tour of the studios, treats and refreshments from Stuff’d bakery, and raffle prizes donated by other local businesses.
Michael Beauclerc outside his new Mad Music School in Juliann’s Plaza at 3347 Lakefield Road. While the school officially opens on July 7, 2025, Beauclerc is hosting a family-friendly soft-opening celebration from 10 a.m. to noon on July 6 featuring live instructor demos, a tour of the studios, treats and refreshments from Stuff’d bakery, and raffle prizes donated by other local businesses. (Photo: Michael Beauclerc)
“Everybody grows up somewhere and they move away, and they think ‘I’m never coming back to that little tiny place’,” Beauclerc says of why he chose to live in Lakefield.
“Knowing that I was going to be a professional drummer, I just assumed I was going to live in Montreal or Toronto. I’ve performed all over the world and the world is a beautiful place, but Lakefield is so beautiful and everybody here is so, so, so kind.”
At Sunday’s celebration, Beauclerc will also be revealing a mural created by Jason Wilkins, a muralist, live event artist, workshop instructor, and illustrator based in Peterborough.
Advertisement - content continues below
Share on Bluesky
Beauclerc and Wilkins attended the former Peterborough Collegiate Vocational School together and formed a bond after being the only two boys in their homeroom ninth-grade French class and have been friends ever since.
“Grade nine was a long time ago and we’ve been friends through it all — through all the travelling and careers,” Beauclerc says.
“I’m very flattered that he’s doing that for me and it’s a really amazing gift, and all part of the arts community supporting each other.”
Peterborough illustrator and muralist Jason Wilkins has painted a mural for Michael Beauclerc’s new Mad Music School in Juliann’s Plaza at 3347 Lakefield Road in Lakefield. Wilkins and Beauclerc have been friends since high school. The completed mural will be unveiled during a family-friendly soft-opening celebration from 10 a.m. to noon on July 6, 2025 featuring live instructor demos, a tour of the studios, treats and refreshments from Stuff’d bakery, and raffle prizes donated by other local businesses. (kawarthaNOW screenshot of Jason Wilkins video)
To celebrate the opening of Mad Music School, Beauclerc is hosting a special group intro to drumming session on Saturday, July 26 at 10 a.m., where musicians of all ages can test their skill on the practice pads.
“If you’re not sure if you want to be a drummer or if you’d like to just see what it’s all about, you can come to this class, and do this one-time thing to test it,” he says.
Beauclerc says he hopes to host the class a few times per year to get new musicians trying out the instruments.
Advertisement - content continues below
Share on Bluesky
As for how he feels about opening the music school, Beauclerc admits to some trepidation because he’s not a “traditional businessman,” but is confident the community will be supportive of the new venture.
“To open a brick-and-mortar space is something new and a little bit scary,” he says. “To have that community support and love — it’s just a great reminder of where I come from and how wonderful this place is.”
For more information on Mad Music School, to register for the intro to drumming session, or to schedule a lesson, visit madmusicschool.setmore.com.
"Hookup" at Globus Theatre in Bobcaygeon from July 10 to 12, 2025 features improv performers (left to right, top and bottom) Paul Bates, Christy Bruce, Alastair Forbes, Kris Siddiqi, and Aurora Browne. (kawarthaNOW collage of supplied photos)
Whether you’re single, married, or somewhere in between, an improv comedy show coming to the Kawarthas for the first time will deliver all the excitement of a first date — but without all the awkward silences.
Created and directed by veteran Toronto comedian Paul Bates, who also performs in the show along with four other stellar improv performers, Hookup runs for three nights from July 10 to 12 at Globus Theatre in Bobcaygeon.
Originally staged with a Valentine’s Day theme to sold-out audiences at Toronto’s Factory Theatre back in February, the show combines audience participation with improv theatre to create a different unscripted romantic comedy every night.
Advertisement - content continues below
After introducing themselves to the audience, the improv performers question the audience to find two suitable candidates who share details about their lives, likes and dislikes, and turn-ons and turn-offs. From there, the performers improvise a story of what might happen if those two audience members did actually “hook up” — with hilarious results.
“This show is a gut-laugh inducing 70 minutes with this team of improv comedy pros,” wrote Andrea Perez of NEXT Magazine of the Factory Theatre production. “And with a new show every night, I’m tempted to go back and see their shenanigans again.”
Joining Bates on the Globus stage from the original Factory Theatre production are Christy Bruce, Alastair Forbes, and Kris Siddiqi, along with Aurora Browne, who audience members will recognize as the co-creator and co-star of Baroness Von Sketch Show.
Advertisement - content continues below
Paul Bates got his start at The Second City in Toronto, where he wrote and performed in six revues, with his other stage credits including SlapShot Live, It’s A Wonderful Toronto, An Inconvenient Musical, and SARSical, for which he received a Dora Award nomination. He has performed on television in Dan For Mayor, Workin’ Moms, Kim’s Convenience, Baroness Von Sketch Show and more, with film credits including The Comey Rule, The Tuxedo, Welcome to Mooseport, and Camille.
Originally from Calgary, Christy Bruce has performed on stages across Canada, Europe, and Australia, including in Miracle on Queen St, Sleeping Beauty, Jack, Blind Date, Dracula: The Bloody Truth, The Canadian, Undercover, and many more. Her television performances include Run the Burbs, Schitt’s Creek, The Handmaid’s Tale, Designated Survivor, Suits, Orphan Black, and more.
Alastair Forbes, who has been a professional improvisor for over 20 years and is an alumni of The Second City in Toronto, is a three-time nominee for the Canadian Comedy Awards’ improvisor of the year award, winner of the World’s Biggest Improv Tournament, and has received numerous accolades performing at improv festivals from Vancouver to Athens to Copenhagen.
Advertisement - content continues below
Toronto comedian, actor, and writer Kris Siddiqi studied with The Second City in Toronto before going on to a career in voice work as well as taking on principal roles for many cartoons and becoming a series regular on CBC Radio’s Because News. Among many other awards, his miniseries Bit Playas won two Canadian Screen Awards for best writing and best series. His film and television credits include I Woke Up a Vampire, Titans, Molly’s Game, The Boys, and Baroness Von Sketch Show.
Originally from Thunder Bay, Aurora Browne began her career in Toronto with The Second City before going to to appear in television shows including Orphan Black, The Gavin Crawford Show, and Corner Gas, among others.
As well as co-creating and co-starring in Baroness Von Sketch Show, Browne was a co-creator, co-writer, and star of the hit web series Newborn Moms. She has received multiple Canadian Comedy Awards nominations, and won the best female improviser award in 2008.
Advertisement - content continues below
“Hookup is funny, silly, sometimes crazy, but ultimately about human connection and love,” Bates says in a media release. “We can’t wait to explore these universal themes in Bobcaygeon and to bring your stories to life on stage.”
Hookup runs at 8 p.m. from Thursday, July 10 to Saturday, July 12, with an optional dinner available before the show at 6 p.m. Tickets are $50 for the show only, or $100 for dinner and the show (plus tax and fees), and are available at www.globustheatre.com/shows-all/hookup or by calling the box office at 705-738-2037.
Note: the show includes adult themes, sexual themes, and swearing.
A person was seriously injured after being thrown from their motorcycle on Friday night (July 4) near Youngs Point north of Peterborough.
At around 8:45 p.m., Peterborough County Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) responded to reports of a motorcyclist who had entered a ditch off Youngs Point Road, west of Youngs Point, and was thrown from their motorcycle.
The person was taken to Peterborough Regional Health Centre and then later airlifted to a Toronto-area trauma centre with life-altering injuries.
Advertisement - content continues below
Police have not released any other information about the victim.
Youngs Point Road Road was closed in both directions from County Road 20/12th Line Smith to Katchewanooka Court for six hours while police documented the scene.
Anyone with information or video footage of the incident is asked to contact the Peterborough County OPP at 1-888-310-1122.
Since 2017, 2SLGBTQIA+ youth aged 13 to 21 living in the Peterborough area have been building resiliency, developing leadership skills, and finding their community through Camp fYrefly Ontario. Held at Trent University, the four-day leadership retreat engages youth in activities and workshops led by local artists and provides them with resources for support in the community. This year's camp is being held from August 7 to 10, 2025. (Photo courtesy of Camp fYrefly Ontario)
Being a teenager is a trying time for anyone, but that’s especially true for those who struggle to find a community of peers who share their experiences.
At Camp fYrefly, 2SLGBTQIA+ youth are finding their communities while being authentically and unapologetically themselves.
With the Ontario chapter held at Trent University in Peterborough every August, Camp fYrefly is Canada’s only national leadership retreat for lesbian, gay, bisexual, trans-identified, two-spirited, intersexed, queer, questioning, and allied youth.
Through guided workshops, leadership opportunities, and the potential for meaningful, lifelong friendships, the four-day overnight camp is a transformative, enlightening experience that has the chance to save lives.
Advertisement - content continues below
Share on Bluesky
“Just looking through the applications from campers, there are a lot of folks who have mentioned the need for finding community and building lifelong friendships in and around the area,” says Jo Currie, a camp coordinator for the 2025 event. “Building those communities is something that is positive and, for some, it’s extremely necessary to find community that they can relate to and grow with, and explore themselves and figure out who they are and where they sit within their community.”
Camp fYrefly was founded in 2004 by Dr. André P. Grace and Dr. Kristopher Wells at the University of Alberta. After seeing its impact while serving as the artist in residence at the Edmonton Camp, Peterborough artist, activist, and educator Dr. Spencer J. Harrison brought Camp fYrefly to Trent University in 2017.
This year, the camp will be held at the university from Thursday, August 7 to Sunday, August 10.
VIDEO: About Camp fYrefly with Dr. Spencer J. Harrison (2018)
Over four days, with Trent student residences as the home base, youth aged 13 to 21 will be immersed into various activities and workshops, many of which are arts-based, led by youth leaders and artists who live in and around Peterborough. From campfire sing-alongs to swimming at the pool, and a final showcase for new friends to show off their talents, the weekend offers a myriad of opportunities for youth to make strong connections with their peers.
“Everyone’s going to have to try to push boundaries (because) meeting new people is very scary,” says Reilly Lafreniere, another 2025 camp coordinator. “They’re going to learn how to manage their time and how to push themselves. Those workshops are going to be touching on those skills too, so they’re going to be learning how to do it not just in theory but in practice by connecting with people and learning how to support each other — which is a huge part of leadership.”
Youth will be divided into “pods” with a volunteer youth leader acting as their first point of contact. In addition to adult volunteers to mentor the pod leaders, teacher candidates will be using the inclusive camp as an alternative placement setting where they will facilitate discussions and also mentor and connect with the youth.
Advertisement - content continues below
Share on Bluesky
For the camp’s faculty liaison, Dr. Rachael Nicholls, who has been involved since the camp first came to Ontario, it’s not just the campers who learn and build resilience over the course of the weekend, but leaders often learn from the younger generations as well.
“I myself have experienced and found the courage in the freedom that the youth have,” she says. “Their language and the way they’re expressing themselves is much more than I could have imagined at that age, and so to see them so joyful and really embracing who they are earlier than I did is rewarding. It’s been really powerful to see this kind of intergenerational support and building each other up towards incredible leadership.”
As for Currie, who is currently a student in Trent University’s Bachelor of Education program, she says she’s looking forward to this opportunity to learn from the campers as it will help her connect with students in the future.
“I think that will better me as a future educator, because I want to go into the world of teaching being as authentically myself as I can,” she says. “Me being myself and showing up as I am helps kids do the same.”
Camp fYrefly faculty liaison Dr. Rachael Nicholls (left) with 2025 camp coordinators Reilly Lafreniere and Jo Currie and Trent University student Leola Banks, who is completing her alternative setting placement at the camp. The group recently hosted Camp fYrefly’s first GSA (Gay-Straight Alliance) Conference, inviting local high school students to connect on campus for keynotes, workshops, and activities. (Photo: Dr. Rachael Nicholls)
The group already had the chance to learn from today’s youth when Camp fYrefly hosted the first GSA (Gay-Straight Alliance) Conference on campus and invited local school boards to attend for a day with mini-keynote addresses, workshops, and tours.
“It was just incredible to meet some of the youth and hear about the cool things that they are doing and we felt really inspired by them,” Dr. Nicholls says. “It allowed them to meet each other. Maybe your people aren’t at your high school, but maybe they are at a high school just down the road, so you can connect with folks that are also local to Peterborough.”
During the conference, the leaders asked the youth what they wanted their GSAs to be doing. Along with listing some key initiatives, one person said they wanted to make a friend.
“It just stopped me, and someone from across the room at a totally different school said, ‘I’ll be your friend,'” Dr. Nicholls recalls. “It’s those moments really that I’m hoping for (at Camp fYrefly). That really means so much to have good people and have somebody that would say, ‘I’ll show up for you, I will be your friend’ when you’re feeling like you don’t have any.”
Advertisement - content continues below
Share on Bluesky
Though camp coordinators Currie and Lafreniere grew up in Ottawa, with both saying they had a positive experience figuring out their own identities and building community, they recognize that Peterborough is a smaller community that may not have the same opportunities for 2SLGBTQIA+ people to find their support systems.
“Having those campers have a sense of ‘There are people like me, there are people who want to support me, there are people in my corner. Even if I don’t see them every day, people are out there, and I matter,'” says Currie about her goals for the camp. “If campers walk away feeling more supported and more loved than when they came in, then we’ve done our job.”
“Even just in starting to work here, I’ve become aware of so many programs around Peterborough and so many different groups that are very, very willing to help,” adds Lafreniere. “So even just letting campers know that those supports also exist will be really nice because of course the connections and friendships they’re building are great, but so is knowing that there’s resources they can access to help them further.”
After seeing its impact while serving as artist in residence at Camp fYrefly in Edmonton, Peterborough artist, activist, and educator Dr. Spencer J. Harrison brought the camp to Trent University in 2017. At Camp fYrefly Ontario, held at Trent University from August 7 to 10, 2025, 2SLGBTQIA+ youth aged 13 to 21 will engage in arts-based activities and workshops led by local artists. The weekend will close with a final showcase where individuals and groups will be able to present a talent to the rest of the camp. (Photo courtesy of Camp fYrefly Ontario)
As Camp fYrefly Ontario goes into its ninth season this year, Dr. Nicholls says she has seen the life-changing effect the camp can have, with some campers having gotten married, while others who have gone on to complete their studies at Trent University and others who have found a new passion and interest in an art form.
“We have folks that share that camp transformed their families — and the family didn’t come to camp,” she says. “The camper could understand themselves and articulate it and it transformed the way that they interact as a family, which is incredibly beautiful. We have campers that say the camp saved their lives … coming to camp and meeting other folks like them, feeling less alone in his world — it changed the story for them.”
Given how life-changing it can be, Camp fYrefly makes being being accessible to the community a priority. Though running the camp costs $1,000 per camper, they are only charged $300, with bursaries available for those who need financial support. This is made possible by volunteers who diligently fundraise year-round.
kawarthaNOW.com offers two enews options to help readers stay in the know. Our VIP enews is delivered weekly every Wednesday morning and includes exclusive giveaways, and our news digest is delivered daily every morning. You can subscribe to one or both.
Submit your event for FREE!
Use our event submission form to post your event on our website — for free.
To submit editorial content or ideas, please contact us.
