Many of the message cards for newcomers were written by students at St. Alphonsus Catholic Elementary School School in Peterborough
“I’m very happy that you moved to Canada. I hope you feel very welcomed. I hope your future is very bright and happy. – Aurora, St. Alphonsus School”
This is only one of the hundreds of cards containing hand-written messages welcoming newcomers to Canada. The cards are being displayed on a wall at the New Canadians Centre (NCC) at 221 Romaine Street in Peterborough.
Many of the cards were written by students at St. Alphonsus Catholic Elementary School School in Peterborough. Ryan Brooks, principal at St. Alphonsus, explains the school’s connection to wrote the cards.
“We’ve had the good fortune to welcome three students from Syria to St. Alphonsus School,” Ryan says.
A view of the “Wall of Hope” at New Canadians Centre at 221 Romaine Street in Peterborough
“When we heard about the Message of Hope cards the NCC were asking people to fill out, we thought it would be a wonderful opportunity to get the entire school involved,” he adds. “It’s been a rewarding experience for everyone involved and it’s our pleasure to welcome these newcomers to our school and to our community.”
Since the beginning of December, NCC has been distributing simple cards — displaying a hand-drawn image of trees, the sky and sun, and a house with the words “Welcome Home” — in the mail and into the community. NCC ask people to fill out the card with a message of hope and support to newcomers to Canada and to return them to the centre.
New Canadians Centre distributed the cards in the mail and in the community at the beginning of December and encouraged people to send them back with messages of hope and support
“For people who feel powerless in the face of what is happening in the world today, a few words of kindness can mean a great deal,” says Yvonne Lai, Outreach Coordinator at the NCC.
In early 2016, the NCC was designated a Welcome Centre for Syrian refugees. The agency has been involved with the resettlement of close to 220 refugees since that time, including many families with young children. The cards are designed to let people know the community cares about them, especially at a time when world events are so catastrophic.
Photos of some of the cards on display on NCC’s “Wall of Hope”
Celebrate the return of the light on the winter solstice with the first annual Light Hunters' Promenade takes place from 6 to 8 p.m. on December 21st in downtown Peterborough (graphic: Atelier Ludmila)
As we head into the darkest day of the year, during one of the most challenging years for global news and developments, I feel compelled to bring some cheer to my column this week. The challenge with this is that I find the winter solstice to be disheartening and bleak. It’s my absolute least favourite day of the year. The only good thing about this day to me is that we turn the corner to my favourite day of the year: — the summer solstice in June, when we get 15 glorious hours of sunlight in The Kawarthas.
There are many who embrace the historic traditions of the winter solstice and to them I say: more power to you, but I’ll see you on June 21st. So to counteract my gloominess (yes, I’m a lot of fun at seasonal parties), I’ve reached deep into the kawarthaNOW.com database to find recommendations for these holiday days, including how to enjoy the outdoors and ways to keep the kids busy while out of school.
Unless you’re in England to watch the sun rise between the stones at Stonehenge on the winter solstice, you’ll want to head to downtown Peterborough on the evening of December 21 for a lantern-lit parade during the first annual Light Hunters’ Promenade (photo: Mark Grant / Wikipedia)
I mentioned this last week, but since it’s actually happening this week and is a true solstice event, they deserve a second mention. Celebrate the winter solstice with Light Hunters’ Promenade, which takes place for the first time on Wednesday, December 21st and has all the potential to become a popular annual event.
Join Atelier Ludmila and friends (best known for their Artsweek and local outdoor theatre productions) along with local artists, drummers, performers, business owners, and a host of light seekers, as they create a paper lantern-lit procession through the streets of downtown Peterborough. This lovely and creative event takes place from 6 to 8 p.m., beginning at the Peterborough Square courtyard behind Market Hall. Bring your own lantern or meet them at 5 p.m. to buy a lantern of your very own.
The event is based on timeless ceremonies celebrating the return of the light on the winter solstice. Members of Old Men Dancing, Peterborough Academy for Circus Performers will join the procession. The event is free to the public, but donations are gratefully accepted (the suggested donation is $10 per family). For more information, visit the Facebook event page.
Keeping the kids busy over the holidays
We’ve got lots of indoor and outdoor events listed on our website to keep your kids busy over the holidays, including public skating
Let’s face it, when the presents are all opened and the turkey comas wear off, boredom soon sets in and every parent needs a plan. You might not be aware that our events database is constantly topped up and often boasts 900 to 1400 or more events at any given time, along with 1,200 or more venue listings. So my job this week it to point you to how to make good use of all that info! You can access all of our events columns here.
We’ve got lots of events for both kids and older kids listed in our Children’s Events column and our Youth Events columns — including public skating over the holidays.
Everyone likes to take in a film over the holidays, and we’ve got the only regional movie listings.
Skating anyone? We have, hands down, the most comprehensive listing of indoor and outdoor skating across The Kawarthas. Keep an eye on our Facebook and Twitter feeds for updates on when canal skating begins at the Lift Lock in Peterborough.
If you’re excited about the snow we have this year then you’re likely to also be excited by many of the outdoor events we’ve got listed in our Outdoor Events column.
If you’re wondering about what’s open and closed over the holidays, visit our site later this week for our popular “What’s Open and Closed” list of holiday hours for over 200 businesses, organizations, and services across The Kawarthas.
Ringing in 2017
The Rocket Revue performs with special guest Beau Dixon at Parkway Banquet Centre on New Year’s Eve (photo: Rocket Revue)
If you’re planning now for what to do on New Year’s Eve (and New Year’s Day), we’ve got you covered. Our New Year’s Events column will be updated up to the last minute!
For both family-friendly and adults-only New Year’s Eve celebrations, our music columnist Josh Fewings has selected his top picks.
My own top pick for New Year’s Eve, based on entertainment value and local talent, is The Rocket Revue with special guest Beau Dixon at Parkway Banquet Hall. Tickets are still available, at either the Parkway Banquet Hall or at Moondance in downtown Peterborough. Read all the details here.
The entire family can celebrate New Year’s Eve with local jug band Blues in the Bottle from 5 to 8 p.m. at the Nexicom Studio at Showplace (photo: Blues in the Bottle / Facebook)
For family and kids, an early event for New Year’s Eve is the Annual Family NYE Party with local jug band Blues in the Bottle. This year, the party begins at 5 p.m. at the Nexicom Studio at Showplace Performance Centre and runs until 8 p.m. There’ll even be an early countdown to 2017 for children so they too can celebrate as well. Advance tickets are $10 for adults, $5 for children and grandparents, or $20 for the whole family (or $30 at the door for a family).
Organizers also encourage people to bring a food item for YES Shelter for Youth and Families, and maybe a snack for the food table at the event. Tickets are available at the Showplace box office, online at www.showplace.org, or by calling 705-768-5658.
Save the date!
Showplace Performance Centre has a stellar line-up in 2017 of entertainment for the entire family and all musical tastes, like Next Generation Leahy on March 19 (publicity photo)
If you’ve been following my columns these past few weeks. you know that we’re in store for a huge spring of stellar entertainment.
Showplace has just announced a few more shows, with an extensive lineup of entertainment for the entire family and all musical tastes. Of special note are upcoming concerts by Murray McLauchlan, Colin James, Royal Wood, The Piano Men, Matt Andersen, Next Generation Leahy, Bubble Guppies Live, and many more!
If you’d like to have your event considered as a top pick, your first step is to make sure to submit it to our event system.
If you want to be in the know about what’s coming up (and maybe win tickets!), you should subscribe to our VIP Enews which will arrive in your inbox every Wednesday morning — along with a link to the most recent version of this column. Sign up for our VIP Enews here.
Thanks for reading and please let me know what you think by posting a comment below.
Music columnist Josh Fewings picks nine options for celebrating New Year's Eve in Peterborough and the Kawarthas
There are a ton of New Year’s Eve events in Peterborough and the Kawarthas! There’s something in almost every area of our readership and something for every age group and musical taste. Brave the cold and celebrate the end of 2016 and the coming of 2017.
Below are my top picks of celebrations to choose from, including a couple of family-friendly ones. For a complete list of what’s happening in the Kawarthas around New Year’s, make sure to check out our New Year’s Events listings.
Dance for Operation Catnip with Max Mouse and the Gorillas at The Spill in Peterborough
While New Year’s is usually associated with a late-night party, there are also some early events that allow for celebration before it gets late. “Dance for Operation Catnip” will be one of those shows.
The event will feature Max Mouse and the Gorillas on stage at The Spill (414 George St. N., Peterborough, 705-748-6167) from 3 to 6 p.m., with donations at the door going to Operation Catnip, a not-for-profit dedicated to fixing and finding homes for stray cats.
Max Mouse and the Gorillas feature some Peterborough and area musical icons, including Cris Cuddy, Bobby Watson, Buzz Thompson and more. The event will also have special guest Delbert Metheral. Get your afternoon dancing shoes on!
VIDEO: “Steppin’ Out” – Max Mouse and the Gorillas
Annual Family New Year’s Eve Party with Blues in the Bottle at Showplace in Peterborough
Another early event for New Year’s Eve is the very family-friendly Annual Family NYE Party with local jug band Blues in the Bottle in the Nexicom Studio at Showplace Performance Centre (290 George St. N., Peterborough, 705-742-7469).
The show will run from 5 to 8 p.m. and will include a countdown to 2017 for children so they too can celebrate as well.
Advance tickets are $10 for adults, $5 for children and grandparents, or $20 for the whole family (and $30 at the door for a family). Tickets can be purchased from the Showplace Box Office or online at www.showplace.org.
Organizers encourage bringing a food item for YES Shelter for Youth and Families and/or a snack for the food table at the event. The venue is accessible with an elevator in operation as well. Should be a great time!
VIDEO: “Blues in the Bottle” at Needles in the Hay from the 2015 Folk Folly
New Year’s Eve with Kim Doolittle and Ted Staunton at Trattoria Gusto in Port Hope
Port Hope is in for a treat on New Year’s Eve as Trattoria Gusto (1 Walton St., Port Hope, 905-885-1198) hosts an excellent evening of music and food.
There will be music by talented musicians Kim Doolittle and Ted Staunton, as well as a delicious three-course meal.
Tickets are $60, find out more information and reserve a spot by calling 905-885-1198.
VIDEO: “Amazing Grace” – Kim Doolittle
New Year’s Eve with Gunslingers at Canoe & Paddle in Lakefield
Food and musical entertainment are on the menu at Lakefield’s Canoe & Paddle (18 Bridge St., Lakefield, 705-651-1111) on New Year’s Eve.
There’ll be an early seating from 4 to 7 p.m. for families (dinner only), and an evening seating from 7:30 p.m. to 1 a.m. with music provided by cover band Gunslingers starting at 8:30 p.m. The evening includes a three-course meal, one drink (with many fine micro-brewed beers and wines available), and champagne at midnight.
Tickets are $80 and include tax and tip as well. For more information and to reserve, call 705-651-1111.
VIDEO: “I Saw Her Standing There” – Gunslingers
New Year’s Eve with The Kents at Days Inn and Suites in Lindsay
For Lindsay residents, Days Inn and Suites (134 Angeline St. S., Lindsay, 705-328-0100) will be hosting a New Year’s Eve party featuring hometown heroes The Kents.
The band has had a great year with a ton of big shows, the release of their acclaimed debut EP, and a growing reputation for excellent new music. Their sound is laden with pop/rock hooks, catchy melodies, and there would appear to be big things on the horizon for the group.
The party will feature appetizers and a portion of proceeds will go to the Ross Memorial Hospital Foundation. The event begins at 7:30 p.m. and tickets are $105, available at Days Inn and Suites Lindsay or online at www.eventbrite.ca. For more information, visit Days Inn and Suites Lindsay on Facebook.
VIDEO: “Something About Her” – The Kents
New Year’s Eve with The Fab Four at Cameco Capitol Arts Centre in Port Hope
Folks in Port Hope also have a chance to ring in 2017 with The Beatles. Maybe not the real band, but it’s a pretty good tribute to the boys from Liverpool.
The Fab Four will be live at Cameco Capitol Arts Centre (20 Queen St., Port Hope, 905-885-1071) beginning at 8 p.m. After the concert, there will be a live television feed from Times Square in New York. Beverages and concessions will be allowed in the theatre and there will be party favours available.
New Year’s Eve with The Rocket Revue featuring Beau Dixon at Parkway Banquet Hall in Peterborough
The Rocket Revue brings their rollicking big band sound to the Parkway Banquet Hall (1135 Lansdowne St. W. #200, 705-742-4100) for New Year’s Eve and they’ve got special guest Beau Dixon along with them.
The group plays R&B standards with swing, blues, jazz, and more. This will be a great show to dance away 2016!
Tickets are $42 and are available at Moondance and Parkway Banquet Hall. Doors open at 8 p.m. and the music begins at 9 p.m.
VIDEO: The Rocket Revue Promo
VIDEO: “It’s Your Thing” – Beau Dixon
New Year’s Eve @ the LAB in Bobcaygeon with Terri Crawford and the Retro Rockets
City of Kawartha Lakes folks will be able to dance 2016 away at the Lakeview Arts Barn (2300 Pigeon Lake Rd, Bobcaygeon, 705-738-2037). The evening will feature classic tunes by Terri Crawford and the Retro Rockets.
Also included with the ticket is a delicious all-night buffet … and a free ride home right to your door in the Kawartha Lakes region (that’s a nice bonus to have for New Year’s Eve)!
Tickets are $50+HST. For more information, visit www.globustheatre.com or call 705-738-2037.
VIDEO: “Life Lines” – Terri Crawford
New Year’s Eve with Mayhemingways at The Pig’s Ear in Peterborough
Peterborough’s Mayhemingways play a New Year’s Eve party at the Pig’s Ear Tavern (144 Brock St., Peterborough, 705-745-7255) — for everyone from early concert-goers to those who are in it until after the clock strikes midnight.
The duo of Benj Rowland and yours truly plays fuzz-folk with elements of bluegrass, Cajun, and Celtic music. Music will begin around 8 p.m. and will run well into the early morning of 2017.
Admission is only $5 at the door and will include chili and a midnight cheer with the bar’s trademark beer Labatt 50! Drop in for a quick pint or stay all night.
Museum supporters celebrate The Canadian Canoe Museum's purchase of a Mercedes Benz van, which will also include a vehicle wrap by Commercial Press & Design, a trailer hitch, and a 20' enclosed trailer (photo: Jessica Fleury / The Canadian Canoe Museum)
The Canadian Canoe Museum thanked community supporters today (December 20) for helping them raise funds for an early Christmas present: a new van to support the museum’s public programs and outreach events and to help the museum safely transport artifacts.
Back in October, The Canadian Canoe Museum had applied to the Aviva Community Fund for up to $100,000 to purchase a van, along with a trailer hitch, vehicle wrap, and enclosed trailer. Despite lots of local support for the museum in the online competition, the museum was competing with 240 other worthwhile projects and wasn’t selected as one of the 15 finalists.
However, the momentum and community support generated during the Aviva campaign continued and, thanks to the efforts of museum advocates, the museum had raised enough funds and support by early December to purchase a used Mercedes Benz van, with only 62,00 kilometres on it, along with supporting equipment and a vehicle wrap.
Carolyn Hyslop, General Manager of The Canadian Canoe Museum (right), thanks community supporters for the new van, which was unveiled in the parking lot at the museum’s Monaghan Road location (photo: Bruce Head / kawarthaNOW)
Funds were raised through the Beaver Club Gala Committee and donations made at the Beaver Club Gala through the Paddles Up initiative, topped up by a donation by Les and Beverly Cassidy, and with support from Mercedes Benz Peterborough and Commercial Press & Design (for the vehicle wrap).
This new equipment will make it possible for the museum’s on and off-water programming to become more accessible to schools, community groups, and the general public.
“This is a game-changer for our on-water programs,” says Stacey Arppe, the museum’s Volunteers and Public Programs Manager. “We can now transport our paddling camp participants and all of our canoes and gear with ease, and having this self-sufficient transportation means we can continue expanding our water-based programming.
Community donations and support have allowed The Canadian Canoe Museum to purchase a new van (along with a 20′ enclosed trailer) to support the museum’s public programs and outreach events and to transport museum artifacts (photo: Jessica Fleury / The Canadian Canoe Museum)
Specifically, the museum would use the equipment to transport children to summer paddling camps, to take the museum’s educational programming and workshops to schools and other locations, to transport the museum’s public paddling fleet for use on-water, and to transport museum artifacts to exhibits at partner museums.
The van, trailer hitch, vehicle wrap, and 20′ enclosed trailer are valued at $60,500.
Historic downtown Lindsay at night. We're featuring two of the 185 shops and services in downtown Lindsay: Kent Bookstore and Brittany n' Bros. (Photo: Eric Marshall / Panoramio)
With its wide main street, historic Victorian architecture, and friendly shop owners, downtown Lindsay is a charming and vibrant day trip destination. And did we mention the free parking?
When you head to downtown Lindsay, we recommend building these two businesses into your itinerary: Kent Bookstore, an independent bookstore with over 5 million titles available, and Brittany n’ Bros, a fashion and shoe boutique run by a mother and her daughter.
Kent Bookstore offers millions of good reads from a historic Lindsay location
Kent Bookstore owner Cheri Hogg has created a book lover's haven in her downtown Lindsay shop. (Photo: Eva Fisher)
Kent Bookstore is located in a historic building at 15 William St., longtime home of the printed word. (Photo: Eva Fisher)
The store has both new and used books, and their online website offers a selection of 5 million titles. (Photo: Eva Fisher)
Kent Bookstore also carries a wide variety of children's books. Cheri draws inspiration from her grandchildren. (Photo: Eva Fisher)
Kent Bookstore, located in a historic downtown Lindsay building, is an independent bookstore with a modern advantage. The cozy shop also has an impressive online presence. The store carries a wide selection of new and used books, as well as calendars, journals, greeting cards, and bookmarks.
A book lover’s sanctuary
With its hardwood floors and tin ceilings, Kent Bookstore has a sense of history as soon as you walk in the door. In fact, the building was home to the Lindsay Post for 100 years. Cheri points out that Kent Bookstore carries on a tradition at 15 William Street. “We’ve kept the printed word in the building.”
The shelves are full of books carefully selected by Cheri and longtime staffer Lisa Chomko. “We do a lot of research. We look to see what’s happening in the book world through different sets of reviews, our sales reps and our customers.” Cheri and her staff know the books, so they can make recommendations.
The book shop has a cozy, easy atmosphere. Cheri is rarely seen without her coffee cup in hand, and in the corner you’ll find coffee by ethical local coffee roaster Kyoto coffee. It’s the sort of atmosphere that you can only find in an independent bookstore. Cheri loves coming to work every day. “I like the people, the conversations, talking about the books. It’s a really nice atmosphere. This is my sanctuary.”
Bringing independent books online
For those who prefer the sanctuary of their own home, Kent Bookstore also has an extensive selection of books online. With over five million books available at www.kentbooks.ca, you can browse an incredible variety of titles, then pick them up at the bookstore. This includes a broad selection of used books. For these titles Kent Bookstore offers an ongoing deal: when you buy three you get the fourth book free. They also offer store credit in exchange for customer trade ins.
Local authors
Many local authors are represented at Kent Bookstore, including hard-to-find self-published titles. Cheri sees many authors come through her doors. “A lot of the local authors are self published, so they need to do the legwork to get their books into stores.”
The store has a local section, but Cheri will also feature these books by genre. “We have a lot of local authors. We feature them so that they’re seen.”
Kent Bookstore is located at 15 William Street in Lindsay. You can also visit them online at www.kentbooks.ca, find them on Facebook, or reach them by phone at 705-328-1600.
Brittany n’ Bros brings gorgeous footwear and Canadian and European fashion to the Kawarthas
Brittany Thompson, manager of the Lindsay location, wears Lola jeans, a V. Fraas scarf, a Fig sweater, Blundstone boots, and recycled legwarmers by 3r Clothing Company. (Photo: Eva Fisher)
These are just some of the cozy Sorel boots available at Brittany n' Bros. Also featured is a poncho made from recycled sweaters by 3r Clothing Company, Nora jewelry and Au Clair gloves. (Photo: Eva Fisher)
Brittany n' Bros Lindsay shop carries a variety of Canadian and European fashions. They also provide beautiful high-quality footwear, including these fabulous studded brown leather boots. (Photo: Brittany n' Bros)
Brittany n' Bros, a boutique shop located on Kent Street in downtown Lindsay, features shoes, clothing, and accessories. It's run by mother-daughter team Tammy and Brittany Thompson. (Photo: Eva Fisher)
Brittany n’ Bros has become an important name in fashion in central Ontario. With stores in Lindsay, Port Perry, and Cobourg, owner Tammy Thompson Letham offers a stylish selection of shoes, clothing and accessories that also offer comfort and durability.
“We want to make people look good and feel good about themselves,” Tammy says. “I get excited about that.”
The store began as a shoe shop, but since then has expanded to become a fashion boutique as well.
Who is Brittany?
The first Brittany n’ Bros store opened its doors in Lindsay in August of 1998. Tammy chose a name with a personal connection.
“I named it after my children, my daughter Brittany and my two boys, Christopher and Aaron.” Tammy’s daughter Brittany started working in the store after school and on weekends when it first opened. Now, after completing a business diploma at Fleming College, she manages the Lindsay location.
Footwear and fashion
As you walk into the Lindsay store, you are met with a striking selection of footwear: this season there is a selection of gorgeous leather boots, dress shoes, snow boots and slippers. There is a wide selection of Blundstone boots, a popular pick with their customers.
The Brittany n’ Bros team strives to find clothing that looks and feels good. Tammy says that they are always looking for lines “geared to comfort and fashion.”
Canadian companies include Sympli, a versatile line than can be worn for casual or dressy occasions, and Lola Jeans, a denim line known for its comfortable stretch.
Tammy often features less well known designers, like 3r Clothing Company, a Toronto-based company that makes legwarmers, skirts and ponchos from recycled sweaters.
The stores also carry a line with the Brittany n’ Bros label on it. For this, Tammy and her team get creative control.
“We pick our body shapes, fabrics and colours. It’s a line that we’re excited about.”
A growing bootprint
Brittany n’ Bros continues to grow, bringing their stylish clothing and footwear to more and more women.
Their Port Perry store moved to a new space more than triple to size of the old store in October.
Their Cobourg store changed location from a 1000 square foot store to 2000 square feet in April.
Tammy encourages you to visit more than one location. “They will carry some of the same lines, but different stores will have different products. Take a road trip.”
Brittany n’ Bros Lindsay location is at 109 Kent Street West in Lindsay. You can find them online at www.brittanyandbros.com and on Facebook and Twitter.
The Peterborough Police Service Canine (K9) Unit has two police service dogs, Wolfe and Hal, both German Shepherds. They're brothers one year apart in age. (Photo: Peterborough Police Service)
Wolfe, a police service dog (PSD) with the Peterborough Police Service K9 Unit, had a busy Saturday.
Following a weekend break-in at a local medical clinic, PSD Wolfe located two male suspects hiding in a snowbank in the early morning hours of Saturday, December 17th. Later that evening, he located large quantities of illicit drugs in a suspicious vehicle police pulled over.
In the first incident, police received a call at around 1:30 a.m. on regarding an abandoned truck in front of a Medical Drive address.
The investigation revealed that two males had stolen the truck from the driveway of a Downie Street home, broke into the Peterborough Medical Clinic located on Hospital Drive, stole four cash trays from the ATM machine inside, and then attempted to flee the area in the stolen truck.
The truck became lodged in a snowbank and the two males then fled on foot. Officers and the K9 Unit were dispatched to the area and began a search for the suspects.
Following a track by the K9 Unit, Wolfe located the two males hiding in a snowbank in the area of Murray and Reid Streets at around 2:20 a.m. The two males were arrested on scene.
As a result of the investigation, Robert Lemieux, 52, of Melbourne Road in Strathroy, and Christopher Campbell, 53, of Culver Drive in London, were each charged with break and enter, possession of break-in instruments, two counts of possession of property obtained by crime over $5,000, and theft of a motor vehicle.
Later on Saturday, at around 8 p.m., officers conducted a suspicious vehicle stop in the Brookdale Plaza parking lot located on Chemong Road. Previous information provided to police indicated that the accused had threatened a woman known to him then fled the area.
During the incident the K9 Unit was called to attend. During a search of the vehicle, PSD Wolfe located a large amount of cocaine and marijuana in the vehicle. A large quantity of Canadian currency was also located.
As a result of the investigation, a 39-year-old male of no fixed address, Peterborough, was arrested and charged with possession of a schedule II substance for the purpose of trafficking X2 (marijuana under 3kg, cannabis resin under 3kg), possession of a schedule I substance for the purpose of trafficking (cocaine), possession of proceeds of property obtained by crime over $5,000 (Canadian currency), and intimidation.
Due to the domestic nature of this incident, police are not releasing the name of the accused.
Euphoria Wellness Spa is a five-star spa located in downtown Peterborough at the former Commercial Press building (supplied photo)
Euphoria Wellness Spa
With the opening of Euphoria Wellness Spa, owner Simone Dobson has created an incredible space in the downtown core.
Originally the Peterborough Canoe Company, then Commercial Press, the building at 290 Water Street has been completely transformed into one of the top five-star spas in Canada. Louise MacKenzie provided the design and Greg Couch and Michael Battaglia led the construction.
Euphoria offers esthetics, massage, medical esthetics and treatments, a hair salon, esthetics, hair and massage for men, and packages and specials.
Euphoria Wellness Spa is open seven days a week. Visit www.euphoriawellnessspa.com or find them on social media.
Hand and Stone Massage and Facial Spa
Owners Kinjal Patel and Krishna Modi of Hand and Stone Massage and Facial Spa in Peterborough (supplied photo)
Meanwhile, Hand and Stone Massage and Facial Spa recently opened at 999 Lansdowne Street in Peterborough.
Peterborough is location number 22 for the franchise, which offers numerous types of registered massage including swedish, deep tissue, sports, trigger points, prenatal, hot stone and couples, and many different types of facials including for men and teens.
Derek Bull and Darcy Madigan are the new owners of Peterborough EATS at Peterborough Square (photo: Peterborough EATS / Facebook)
Peterborough EATS Cafe recently underwent a change of ownership, transferring from the Community Opportunity and Innovation Network (COIN) to Derek Bull and Darcy Madigan.
COIN founded the Peterborough EATS Cafe as a social enterprise over 13 years ago. It operated in the Peterborough Public Library for the last 10 years, recently moving to Peterborough Square under the new owners.
Derek Bull is himself a graduate of COIN’s Culinary Arts program, a shining example of the success of COIN’s tradition of developing innovative programming for underserved members of the community.
Stop in to Peterborough EATS in Peterborough Square or check out www.ptboeats.com.
Tom Wilson and his son Thompson Wilson toured the United States earlier this year in support of Lee Harvey Osmond's latest record "Beautiful Scars". Tom and Thompson will be performing as Lee Harvey Osmond at the Market Hall in Peterborough on January 19. (Photo courtesy of Tom Wilson)
Lee Harvey Osmond, purveyors of “acid folk”, returns to Peterborough on Thursday, January 19th at Market Hall Performing Arts Centre, presented by kawarthaNOW.com and the Market Hall.
kawarthaNOW.com and Market Hall present Lee Harvey Osmond
When: Thursday, January 19, 2017 at 8 p.m. Where: Market Hall Performing Arts Centre (140 Charlotte St., Peterborough) How much: $35 in advance ($28 students), $40 at door, $43 cabaret-style seat
Featuring Tom Wilson, Thompson Wilson, Aaron Goldstein, and Ray Farrugia. Tickets are available at the Market Hall Box Office, by phone at 705-749-1146, or online at markethall.org.
Lee Harvey Osmond has morphed over the years, but at its heart is Hamilton native Tom Wilson, former frontman for Canadian alt-rock band Junkhouse and current member of roots-rock supergroup Blackie and The Rodeo Kings. Other core members of the band include former Junkhouse drummer Ray Farrugia and, occasionally, the talented guitarist and pedal steel player Aaron Goldstein.
Lately, Tom has been joined in Lee Harvey Osmond by his son Thompson Wilson, a singer-songwriter best known as the bassist in the now-defunct Hamilton band Harlan Pepper. A talented musician in his own right, Thompson’s songs have been recorded by Lee Harvey Osmond, Blackie and the Rodeo Kings, and Colin James. Last February, Thompson opened for Lee Harvey Osmond at a concert at the Gordon Best in Peterborough.
Tom formed Lee Harvey Osmond back in 2009 as an “artist collective”, backed by Michael Timmins of Cowboy Junkies and Josh Finlayson of Skydiggers, with a signature sound Tom calls “acid folk”: groove-defining bass, guitars with lots of reverb, and hypnotic rhythms, all topped off by Tom’s fluent lyricism and sonorous baritone voice.
VIDEO: “Shake the Hand That Shook the Earth” – Lee Harvey Osmond
The band released its debut album A Quiet Evil in 2009, followed in 2013 by The Folk Sinner, and in 2015 by Beautiful Scars. All three records were long-listed for the Polaris Music Prize, and The Folk Sinner was also nominated for a Juno award. The latest record, Beautiful Scars, is full of deep lyrics and an atmosphere tinged with a pleasant yet mysterious tone.
Between April and November this year, Tom and Thompson played close to 130 shows in the United States in support of the record. That’s a grueling schedule even for a pro, but it doesn’t scratch the surface of just how hard Tom continues to work on all the moving parts in his career.
When he stopped drinking in 1997, Tom Wilson began painting in his unique Picasso-like style, which includes intricate inscribing of song lyrics and stories onto the canvas. Here he’s pictured in front of “The Mystic Highway”, a mural commissioned by the Canadian Academy of Recording Arts and Sciences and the City of Hamilton for the 2015 Juno Awards. (Photo: The Canadian Press / Peter Power)
Tom may be the proudest Hamiltonian you will ever meet — and one of the more artistically diverse as well. A larger-than-life character, he may also be the busiest man in Canadian showbiz and, with apologies to the Dos Equis guy, perhaps the most interesting man in the world.
He writes and performs in both Lee Harvey Osmond and Blackie and The Rodeo Kings (the latter has just released its eighth record, Kings and Kings, and is performing at Toronto’s Massey Hall on February 25th). He’s an accomplished artist. He performed at the Toronto Sketch Comedy Festival last March. He’s writing a memoir for Random House. And he’s even expanding on his already full portfolio as a voice-over artist.
“A filmmaker who wants to make a documentary about my life just got me a job as one of the new voices for The Nature of Things,” Tom tells me. That sentence alone says something of the aura of awesome surrounding the long-time musician.
Tom Wilson from the cover of “Beautiful Scars”, the latest record from acid folk band Lee Harvey Osmond (photo: Jen Squires)
Tom spoke to me on his cell phone while an Uber driver rushed him across Hamilton towards Toronto for a meeting about the upcoming narration work. Though The Nature of Things opportunity is on a loftier level than the other commercial ad work he’d done, he felt compelled to tell me about his past exploits, including being the voice of commercials for Kibbles ‘n Bits dog food, McDonalds’ iconic Quarter Pounder with Cheese (which he admits is complete evidence that he’s “nothing but a slut”), and a particularly lucrative run for Pontiac.
“It was the first job I did and I didn’t know how much I was making,” Tom recalls. “Until my accountant said, ‘We gotta start hiding some money. You’re making $130,000 off just this commercial.’ I said, ‘Oh my god!’ It was like magic, cheques just showed up at my door every month. I stopped looking at them, I just put them in the bank, and they had medical and dental plans and all that stuff. The kind of thing I wasn’t used to as a musician.”
He was at home (in his underwear, he says) when he read The Globe and Mail headline “Pontiac Discontinues Line” and thought ‘Uh oh, I guess I’d better get back to work here.’
His philosophy on doing commercial work is straightforward: it supports what he wants to do as an artist.
“I’ve always believed that, because I came from absolutely no money, making money gives me the freedom to continue to be an artist,” he says.
“I get hired to go out to universities and colleges and talk about economics and the creative process and how people survive. Being an artist is no different than any other independent businessman. You figure out how to survive and if you really want to do this, there’s no room for contemplation or complaining. I just don’t have a lot of patience for that myself. You have to take advantage of opportunity, and if you don’t know where your two feet are standing and what moment you’re in then you’re basically a sitting duck.”
He’s never been worried about being perceived as a “sell out” since this sort of work allows him to make his art — which he approaches in a much different way.
“It’s why I started writing my own songs, and one of the reasons why now I’m writing a book and doing these readings,” Tom explains. “Because if I make a mistake I have the artistic license to do basically whatever I want. That is what I set out to do when I started doing any of this. It’s what we all hope for: to do whatever we want, whenever we want to do it, and to express ourselves. And 45 years later it seems I’m still doing that.”
VIDEO: “Dreams Come and Go” – Lee Harvey Osmond featuring Tom and Thompson Wilson
That includes being able to share his love of music and performance with his son Thompson, who’s following in his footsteps as a professional musician. For much of 2016, Tom and Thompson toured the United States supporting Beautiful Scars. The elder Wilson finds it special each and every time he shares a stage with his son.
“He’s a gift,” Tom says. “He’s like Buddha and he’s probably the most talented person I’ve met in my life … almost. And there’s something about sharing a mic with your kid or somebody who shares the same blood as you. There’s nothing like it.”
Thompson and Tom Wilson performing in concert. “There’s something about sharing a mic with your kid.” (Photo courtesy of Tom Wilson)
The two Wilsons travelled through the U.S. with a purposely small amount of gear to keep their tour as mobile as possible — this after riding on a tour bus for a couple of months that couldn’t make small stops. Travelling light also gave them the ability to check out some American musical and cultural landmarks. They went to Chess Records in Chicago, Big Pink near Woodstock (where The Band and Bob Dylan lived together), and they hit a famous motel in Joshua Tree.
“It’s where Gram Parsons died and where he and the Rolling Stones hung out and wrote songs around the pool and did a lot of drugs. It was really a beautiful experience. That motel is a great oasis in America.”
Another desert stop for them was in Taos, New Mexico.
“It’s where the first organized settlement in North America occurred. Where people stopped being traveling nomads and settled down, almost like townhouses out in the middle of the desert, so it’s a pretty magical spot.”
The two Wilsons toured through the U.S. with a purposely small amount of gear, allowing them greater mobility and the opportunity to check out some American musical and cultural landmarks (photo courtesy of Tom Wilson)
Wilson intimates that it was hard to write new music with such a busy touring schedule.
“I couldn’t work on anything. It was rather labour intensive, and settling into the road is more important to the survival of the tour than distracting myself (by song writing)”.
Even now that he’s back home in Hamilton, his attention has shifted towards his upcoming literary efforts with Random House, who are expecting a manuscript of his new memoir by March 1st.
“All I want to do is stay home and write,” he chuckles.
A young Thompson Wilson (left) in Harlan Pepper, a band he formed in 2008 with fellow Hamilton musicians Dan Edmonds, Marlon Nicolle, and Jimmy Hayes. The band broke up in late 2015 and Thompson has since pursued a solo career as a singer-songwriter and performer. (Photo: Maple Music)
It’s doubtful that Tom will be able to stay home and write for long, as he continues to work on many other projects, including a Canadian tour in March with Blackie and the Rodeo Kings that kicks off with the February 25th concert at Toronto Massey’s Hall and, more immediately, the upcoming Lee Harvey Osmond concert at Market Hall.
Tom gets excited every time he returns to Peterborough, because he sees a lot of his hometown of Hamilton here.
“I like the people in Peterborough,” he says. “They’re a bit of a combination of country folk and Hamiltonians in some ways. I feel that Peterborough is a no-nonsense kind of community, so I like it there.”
Tickets for the Lee Harvey Osmond concert on January 19th are available now at the Market Hall Box Office, by phone at 705-749-1146, or online at markethall.org. Advance general admission tickets are $35 ($28 for students) or $40 at the door. Assigned cabaret-style table seating is $43, with some table seats available (cash only) at Moondance (425 George St. N., Peterborough, 705-742-9425).
The winter solstice, the shortest day of the year, is on Wednesday, December 21. After the winter solstice, the days begin to get longer again.
The winter solstice arrives on December 21st and you can celebrate the return of the light with a new event taking place Wednesday night in downtown Peterborough.
On the winter solstice, the Earth’s northern hemisphere is tilted the furthest away from the sun, resulting in the longest night and shortest day of the year.
Because the axis of Earth is tilted by 23.5 degrees, the orientation of the northern and southern hemispheres changes as the Earth orbits the Sun, resulting in the change of seasons.
Although the winter solstice happens at the same moment for everyone around the world (5:44 a.m. EST), the length of the night depends on your location between the equator and the north pole. At the equator, there’ll be 12 hours of darkness. In the Kawarthas, we’ll get 15 hours and 9 minutes of darkness. At the Arctic circle, there’ll be a full 24 hours of darkness.
In the northern hemisphere, the winter solstice is the shortest day of the year and the summer solstice is the longest day of the year. The opposite is true in the southern hemisphere.
After the winter solstice, the northern hemisphere begins to tilt more towards the sun. On the summer solstice (Wednesday, June 21, 2017), the northern hemisphere will be tilted the closest to the sun, resulting in the longest day and shortest night of the year. In the Kawarthas, that means we’ll get 15 hours and 32 minutes of daylight.
Humans have been tracking the annual progress of the sun for thousands of years. Ancient peoples noticed regular patterns in the sun’s path across the sky, the amount of daylight and night, and the changing location of the sunrise and sunset. Monuments like Stonehenge in England and Machu Picchu in Peru were built for this purpose.
Pagan cultures in the northern hemisphere marked the winter solstice as the final day before the long winter by holding feast celebrations. Animals were slaughtered so they would not have to be fed during the winter, and wine and beer that was fermented during the year was ready for drinking.
Many of the traditions we now associate with Christmas have their roots in winter solstice celebrations. For example, the Celtic Druids used evergreen trees, holly, and mistletoe during winter solstice rituals.
The Light Hunters’ Promenade is a new annual tradition in downtown Peterborough that celebrates the winter solstice with a light-bearing parade through downtown Peterborough
If you want to celebrate the winter solstice in Peterborough, you can join a group of local artists for the “Light Hunters’ Promenade”, a new annual tradition of a celebratory parade carrying lit lanterns through downtown Peterborough.
On the evening of Wednesday, December 21st, parade-goers with paper lanterns, drummers, circus performers, and a host of light seekers will gather at the courtyard of Peterborough Square (340 George St. North, Peterborough), proceed north on Water Street, west on Hunter Street to Fleming Park, then east again on Hunter Street and south on George Street, returning to Peterborough Square.
The event runs from 6 to 8 p.m. and is free to the public (although a suggested donation of $10 per family will be gratefully accepted). If you want to join in, you can bring your own lantern or come to Peterborough Square at 5 p.m. to buy a lantern.
The Light Hunters’ Promenade is being organized by Laurel Paluck of Atelier Ludmila, and participating artists include members of Old Men Dancing, Peterborough Academy for Circus Arts, as well as other local performers and puppeteers.
The word solstice comes from the Latin word solstitium, which means “stationary sun”.
The shadow you cast at noon on the winter solstice is the longest shadow you’ll cast all year.
The Christmas carol In The Bleak Midwinter refers to the winter solstice in its title.
Every year revellers gather at Stonehenge to watch the sunrise on the shortest day.
The winter solstice happens on a different date each year (between December 21 and 23) because the Earth’s orbit around the sun is actually 365 days, five hours and 45 seconds long.
The team at Cornerstone Family Dentistry gather for a group photo in front of the new canvas tribute to founder Dr. Judith Buys, who died in a tragic accident in August 2016 (photo: Cornerstone Family Dentistry / Facebook)
Christmas is a time when we remember family and friends who we’ve lost during the year, and the team at Cornerstone Family Dentistry in Peterborough has honoured the memory of founder Dr. Judith Buys with a canvas tribute in the reception area.
The touching tribute features a photo of Dr. Buys with a quote from the 19th century American poet Ralph Waldo Emerson:
To laugh often and much; To win the respect of intelligent people and affection of children; To appreciate beauty, to find the best in others;
To leave the world a better place, To know even one life has breathed easier because you have lived. This is to have succeeded.
Cornerstone posted photos of the tribute on their Facebook page and wrote “We wanted to share with you the touching poem that accompanies the canvas, as we think it is absolutely beautiful, timeless, and classy, just like she was.”
Dr. Buys died following a tragic accident at a Kawartha Lakes cottage on August 13, 2016. The 55-year-old dentist left behind her husband Dr. Jim McGorman, an emergency room physician at Peterborough Regional Health Centre, and their two sons, Brendan and Connor.
Loved and respected in the community, Dr. Buys established her dental practice at 681 Reid St. in Peterborough in 1987. She dedicated her time volunteering and donating to the United Way, the Festival of Trees, the Dragon Boat Festival, and Five Counties Children’s Centre.
The tribute to the late Dr. Buys in the reception room at Cornerstone Family Dentistry, which was hung by Dr. Buys’ husband Dr. Jim McGorman (photos: Cornerstone Family Dentistry / Facebook)
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