A scene from Far From the Heart, where audience members decide Felicity's fate on her girls' night out through the choices they make. The interactive forum theatre production is coming to schools in the Kawarthas this fall. (Photo: Sheatre)
What choices would you make for Felicity on her girls’ night out?
An innovative interactive live theatre production — designed to engage and educate teens about dating violence and abuse — is coming to schools in the Kawarthas in October and November.
Sheatre, a professional community arts company located near Owen Sound, is presenting the award-winning Far From the Heart this fall to 7,500 students in 20 communities across Ontario, including the Kawarthas.
Originally created in 2006 by Sheatre and a group of youth, this tour of Far From the Heart is being funded by It’s Never Okay, the Government of Ontario’s action plan to end sexual violence and harassment.
The most common offences perpetrated against adolescent victims of dating violence are sexual assault and related offences such as sexual interference. (Photo: Sheatre)
Far From the Heart is a story about coming of age, violation, and redemption. It begins with two boys (Warren and Adam) and two girls (Felicity and Rachel) getting ready for “the big party”. The play uses interactive forum theatre where audience members are shown realistic problematic scenarios and are engaged in making decisions to change the outcome of the play’s narrative.
Audience members are able to suggest different actions onstage, as well as act out their own ideas with the professional cast. A facilitator (The Joker) emcees the performances, while trained community partners help lead discussions to debrief the audience interventions.
In the end, Far From the Heart seeks to help young people develop healthy attitudes and behaviours based on honesty, equality, respect and safety.
Now 10 years old, the Far From the Heart interactive movie and live show were created by Sheatre and a group of youth to help prevent teenage dating violence and abuse. (Graphic: Sheatre)
Far From The Heart takes place in the following locations in the Kawarthas during October and November:
Thursday, October 27th at the Boys & Girls Clubs of Kawartha Lakes in Lindsay
Friday, October 28th at Fenelon Falls Secondary School
Friday, October 28th at Haliburton Highlands Secondary School
Tuesday, November 1st at Lakefield College School
Wednesday, November 2nd at Port Hope High School.
While these performances are not open to the general public, you can experience the concept yourself by visiting www.farfromtheheart.com and watching the interactive movie. The website also includes resources about dating abuse for youth as well for educators (who can also book a performance).
Around 71% of Canadian youth start dating by the age of 15. Over a third of sexual assaults reported to police occur in dating and acquaintance relationships, with the most common offences perpetrated against adolescent victims of dating violence being sexual assault and related offences such as sexual interference.
The Peterborough DBIA announced the Win This Space entrepreneurial competition last week (photo/graphic: Peterborough DBIA)
Win This Space competition
The Peterborough Downtown Business Improvement Area (DBIA) announced an exciting new contest last week. Called Win This Space, one local entrepreneur is going to get a big head start with a free one-year lease on a downtown storefront.
There are local businesses and organizations that have put together a complete package of products and services with a $35,000 value. If you have a business idea you have until January 13 to enter.
Torbram Electric Supply, with 850 branch locations around the world, has a new location in Peterborough (photo: Torbram Electric Supply / Facebook)
Torbram Electric Supply opens today (October 24) in a new location. The new space is larger, more efficient, and accommodates their continued growth and expansion.
Torbram is a Canadian company and part of a global electrical wholesale network. The new location is 638 The Kingsway, Unit A, open Monday through Saturday.
Watch for a grand opening on Tuesday, November 1. Visit www.torbramelectric.com for more information.
Angela Mark Fashion
Angela Mark is retiring her fashion store front in downtown Peterborough (supplied photo)
Congratulations to Angela Mark who is celebrating 30 years since she launched her design label and opened her fashion business. Angela has also announced that as part of the evolution of her business, she is retiring her store front at the corner of King and Aylmer in Peterborough.
Angela is having an anniversary, store retirement, and clearance sale of her ready-to-wear clothing, as well as her exclusive fabric collection this Thursday, Friday, and Saturday (October 27, 28, and 29). Be sure to follow Angela to find out what is next for the award-winning designer and entrepreneur.
The inaugural Next Level PTBO quarterly luncheon takes place on October 25 (supplied photo)
The Peterborough Chamber of Commerce launches a new event tomorrow (October 25) called Next Level PTBO.
The quarterly luncheon will profile three local business people who are taking things to the next level. Plus, each of them will introduce who’s next. In one lunch hour, you’ll meet six innovative, interesting, and inspiring people.
Lunch is free for Chamber members, sponsored by The Venue, but you must register at www.peterboroughchamber.ca.
'The Secret Path', written and directed by the late Gord Downie with illustrations by Jeff Lemire, tells the story of 12-year-old Chanie Wenjack who died 50 years ago while trying to walk 600 kilometres to his northwestern Ontario home after fleeing a residential school in Kenora. (Illustration: Jeff Lemire)
At 9 p.m. on Sunday, October 23rd — the 50th anniversary of the death of Chanie Wenjack — CBC will be broadcasting Gord Downie’s animated film The Secret Path.
Trent University invites the community to attend a free screening of the broadcast at Wenjack Theatre, named after the Indigenous boy who died after escaping from a residential school. The screening will be preceded by a reconciliation panel discussion.
“We are pleased to be able to show the film and discuss the legacy of residential schools as well as the many efforts underway to help to heal,” says David Newhouse, faculty member and chair of the Department of Indigenous Studies at Trent University.
“It is through understanding our history that we take steps to ensure that this does not happen again. We all have a part to play in reconciliation. It starts with educating ourselves.”
In September, Gord Downie (right) met with Chanie’s sister Pearl Wenjack (centre) in Marten Falls First Nation in September (photo: Sheila North Wilson, Manitoba Keewatinowi Oktmakanak)
The Tragically Hip’s Gord Downie began his Secret Path project (secretpath.ca) after learning from his brother Mike about the the story of Chanie Wenjack. Gord wrote 10 poems, which grew into 10 songs that Gord has recorded as an album. Gord and Mike presented the songs to comic artist Jeff Lemire for his help illustrating Chanie’s story in an 88-page graphic novel.
Downie’s music and Lemire’s illustrations inspired The Secret Path, the animated film to be broadcast by CBC in an hour-long commercial-free television special on Sunday, October 23rd at 9 p.m. (and live streamed at cbc.ca/secretpath).
VIDEO: “The Stranger’, the first full chapter and song from The Secret Path
“Chanie haunts me,” Gord writes in a statement. “His story is Canada’s story. This is about Canada. We are not the country we thought we were. History will be re-written.”
A panel discussion will take place before the screening at 7 p.m. The discussion will cover Canada’s history of residential schools, their lasting impact, and how to move forward through reconciliation.
Panelists include Shirley Williams (Elder, Residential School Survivor, and Professor Emeritus at Trent University), Dr. John Milloy (Special Advisor to the Truth and Reconciliation Commission, and Professor Emeritus at Trent University), Karissa Dawn Martin (an Indigenous Studies & History student at Trent University), and Liz Stone (Executive Director of Niijkiwendidaa Anishnaabe-Kwewag, a not-for-profit organization in Peterborough delivering counselling and healing services for Indigenous peoples).
Trent University’s Wenjack Theatre was named in honour of Chanie Wenjack campaign spearheaded by students of the Indigenous Studies department in 1973 (photo: Trent University)
The discussion and screening take place at Wenjack Theatre, named after Chanie Wenjack. When construction began on Otonabee College at Trent University in 1973, a group of student leaders from the Indigenous Studies department lobbied for the college to be named in Chanie’s honour. The campaign spearheaded by student leaders led to the naming of Trent’s largest lecture hall as the Chanie Wenjack Theatre.
The community is welcome to attend the panel discussion and screening, but are asked to RSVP on Facebook.
The story of Chanie Wenjack
In the fall of 1963, Chanie Wenjack was taken away from his family — his parents, sisters, and two dogs — at Ogoki Post on the Marten Falls First Nation in in northern Ontario and forced to live 600 kilometres away at the Cecilia Jeffrey Indian Residential School in Kenora, Ontario.
The Anishinaabe boy was only nine years old and understood very little English. Around 150 other Indigenous children lived at the school, which was run by the Women’s Missionary Society of the Presbyterian Church in Canada and paid for by the federal government.
The children lived at Cecilia Jeffrey and attended classes at schools in Kenora. Chanie (who was misnamed Charlie by his teachers) struggled to learn English and arithmetic and had to take remedial classes.
Chanie had previously never tried to run away from the school but, after three years, he had had enough. On Sunday, October 16, 1966, Chanie and two of his friends, brothers Ralph and Jackie MacDonald, decided to leave. Chanie told his friends he wanted to see his father.
Pearl Wenjack holds a photo of her brother Chanie Wenjack (photo: Historica Canada)
It was a sunny and mild afternoon, so the three boys left wearing only light clothing. They travelled north through the bush using a “secret path” known to children at the school. They headed for Redditt, a railroad stop 32 kilometres north of Kenora and 48 kilometres east of the Manitoba border.
They had to stop frequently as Chanie was in poor health (a post-mortem would show his lungs were infected at the time of his death). While they were walking, Chanie found a CNR schedule with a route map in it — but he didn’t know enough English to read it.
More than eight hours later, the boys arrived in Reditt. A local white man the MacDonald brothers knew took the exhausted boys in for the night. Early the next morning, the boys walked a short distance further to the cabin of Charles Kelly, an uncle of the Macdonald brothers, who let them stay.
Later that same morning, Chanie’s best friend (who had also run away from the school and was another of Kelly’s nephews) showed up. Among this family reunion, Chanie was considered “the stranger”.
On Thursday, Kelly took his nephews up to his trapline by canoe, leaving “the stranger” behind. Chanie told Kelly’s wife he was going to walk the five kilometres to the trapline, and she gave him some matches in a little glass jar and some food.
Over 36 hours, Chanie Wenjack managed to walk 13 kilometres of the 600-kilometre journey to his home when he succumbed to the elements (illustration: Jeff Lemire)
Chanie made it to the trapline and stayed overnight but, after Kelly told him he’d have to walk back to Redditt, Chanie said he was going to walk home instead. Kelly showed him how to get to the railroad tracks and told him to ask railroad workers along the way for food.
Over the next 36 hours, Chanie attempted to walk the almost 600 kilometres home. All he was wearing was a cotton windbreaker while he faced weather that included snow squalls, freezing rain, and temperatures between –1° and –6° C. He only managed to walk 19 kilometres before dying from exposure.
When a railway engineer found Chanie’s body, he was lying on his back in soaked clothing and had bruises on his shins and forehead, presumably from falling.
Chanie’s story was also told in a Heritage Minute released earlier in the summer by Historica Canada. The script for the Heritage Minute was written by author Joseph Boyden, who received an honorary degree from Trent in 2014, and the historical advisor was professor emeritus, Dr. John Milloy (who will be part of the panel discussion on Sunday).
Four of the concerts at Showplace during its 20th anniversary season: The Wintergarten Orchestra on October 27, Strings Attached with Michael Gabriel on October 28, Fred Eaglesmith with Tif Ginn on November 12, and Natalie MacMaster and Donnell Leahy's A Celtic Family Christmas on December 22 and 23
If variety really is the spice of life, then life at the Showplace Performance Centre is spicy … and about to get much spicier.
With its 20th anniversary season upon us, the 640-seat performing arts venue in downtown Peterborough (290 George Street North, 705-742-7469) is welcoming a number of diverse acts in the lead-up to the new year:
For Showplace marketing manager Emily Martin, these performers and others scheduled have her “very excited” but her enthusiasm is off the charts when it comes to “the amazing team” she works with.
“It’s definitely a family,” says Martin, who will mark three years at Showplace next March. “It’s just so great to come in and work with Kait (Dueck) and Theresa (Foley) … and Ray (Marshall) is a dream to work with. Everyone is really focused and committed to Showplace, our mission, and what we do for the community.”
“We have 140 volunteers. I know it’s a cliché but we literally couldn’t do this without the volunteers. They step up. It doesn’t matter if it’s Natalie MacMaster or a dance competition, they’re here at six in the morning if need be or eight at night for a concert.”
When all the hard work pays off: one of the full houses at Showplace for three sold-out performances by fiddlers Natalie MacMaster and Donnell Leahy last December (photo: Emily Martin)
Martin notes the big challenge ahead, as it has been over the past 20 years, is remaining financially viable.
“We need community support in the form of donations, memberships, and ticket sales,” she says. “We are a non-profit organization, so we need that support to stay open.”
Not on the performance schedule below — but a coup nonetheless — is the Ontario Contact conference set for November 3rd to 5th. The event is described as an opportunity for those working in the performing arts touring and presenting sector to come together to network and to share information in a three-day conference featuring music, dance, theatre, spoken word, and youth-orientated programming.
“It’s multi genre, so there’s some singing, some dance, some acting … everything,” says Martin, noting a limited number of free tickets for conference-related performances will be made available to the public.
Looking ahead, the final touches are being put on Showplace’s post-Christmas performance schedule. Martin is mum on the particulars but promises “it’s going to be pretty spectacular.”
To view the complete Showplace performance schedule, complete with artist details and ticket information, visit www.showplace.org.
Here are some performance highlights over the next two months at Showplace:
The Wintergarten Orchestra on Thursday, October 27 at 7:30 p.m.
The Wintegarten Orchestra (publicity photo)
The Wintergarten Orchestra is a Toronto-based 11-member ensemble that showcases jazz and cabaret numbers that were immensely popular on both sides of the Atlantic through the 1920s into the 1930s.
“We’re revisiting a time when The Cocoanut Grove was huge in Los Angeles,” enthuses Bill Beecroft, a trombonist who founded the band in 2012. “You had Marlene Dietrich and the whole Weimar period in Berlin, where cabaret was critical of political mores and sexual mores, and they wrote fantastic songs about this stuff.”
“You’re taking a trip back in time to songs that haven’t been heard for 90 years.”
Asked what it is about the music of that era that still resonates with audiences, Beecroft’s answer is quick and to the point.
“Happy. So many times people in the audience have come up to me and said, ‘I was feeling rather maudlin but I couldn’t stop tapping my toe when you guys started playing.’ It’s fun music. The lyrics mean something. It was a crazy time. The women were going nuts, you had the whole speakeasy scene, you had the emergence of the fantastic black bands, and white bands … there was a sort of integration going on.”
VIDEO: “Puttin’ on The Ritz” performed by The Wintergarten Orchestra
With arrangements by Brent Turner, Billy Bridges and Pete Coleman, The Wintergarten Orchestra performs songs composed by the likes of legends such as George Gershwin, Cole Porter, and Irving Berlin.
Fronted by singers Ted Atherton and Tanya Wills, band members are Erica Beston, Valerie Sylvester and Jane Woods (violins); Sandy Barter (trumpet), John MacMurchy (reeds); Herb Poole (tuba); Jordan Klapman (piano); Billy Bridges (guitar/banjo); Kevin Coady (percussion) and Beecroft.
What truly sets The Wintergarten Orchestra apart from other bands that perform period pieces is Beecroft’s impressive knowledge of, and infectious passion for, the history of the Roaring Twenties into the following decade.
Beecroft’s awareness of how personalities and events influenced the music of the period is key to not only what selections are performed but is also instrumental in transporting audiences back in time to what remains a truly unique period in popular music history. Still, he says, the goal is to entertain.
“It’s the music that grabs you first,” Beecroft says. “At the end of the day, the story might be great but the music is what it’s about.”
Tickets for The Wintergarten Orchestra cost $38 at the Showplace box office, online at www.showplace.org, or phone 705-742-7469.
Strings Attached: Michael Gabriel with The Peterborough Children’s Chorus on Friday, October 28 at 7:30 p.m.
Michael Gabriel in performance (photo: Kevin Lamb)
Singer, songwriter, guitarist and recording artist Michael Gabriel presents his widely acclaimed “Strings Attached” showcase of original material.
First performed in 2011, Strings Attached will see Gabriel performing (as the concert’s name suggests) with a string section.
VIDEO: Strings Attached with Michael Gabriel preview
For his Showplace performance, Gabriel will also be joined by 25 singers from The Peterborough Children’s Chorus. This is part of his tradition of involving local performing arts groups wherever he headlines.
Tickets for Strings Attached with Michael Gabriel cost $24 ($15 for children) and are available at the Showplace box office, online at www.showplace.org, or by phone at 705-742-7469.
You can also catch an advanced, intimate performance by Gabriel from 2 to 4 p.m. on Sunday, October 23rd at Chapters (873 Lansdowne St, Peterborough).
Classic Albums Live: Abbey Road on Saturday, October 29 at 8 p.m.
Classic Albums Live recreates iconic rock albums note for note (graphic: Classic Albums Live)
Classic Albums Live returns to Showplace with a song-by-song, note-for-note re-creation of Abbey Road, The Beatles’ still very popular 11th studio album.
VIDEO: “Here Comes the Sun” by The Beatles performed by Classic Albums Live
Released on September 26, 1969, Abbey Road’s timeless tracks include “Come Together”, “Something”, and “Here Comes The Sun”. It was the last album for which all four members of the band — John Lennon, Paul McCartney, George Harrison and Ringo Starr — got together.
Tickets for Classic Albums Live: Abbey Road cost $35.50 at the Showplace box office, online at www.showplace.org or by phone at 705-742-7469.
Collabro on Sunday, November 6 at 8 p.m.
Collabro (publicity photo)
The winner of Britain’s Got Talent in 2014, Collabro — Michael Auger, Jamie Lambert, Matthew Pagan, and Thomas J. Redgrave — make a rare Canadian appearance.
Billed as a musical theatre “boy band,” Collabro has two albums to its credit, with 2014’s album Stars having debuted at #1 on the U.K. music chart.
VIDEO: “A Thousand Years” by Christina Perri performed by Collabro
Tickets for Collabro cost $45.40 at the Showplace box office, online at www.showplace.org or by phone at 705-742-7469.
Elite Blues Series presents Tas Cru on Thursday, November 10 at 8 p.m.
Tas Cru (publicity photo)
Acclaimed blues music singer/guitarist Tas Cru’s arrival in Peterborough coincides with the release of a brand new album, Simmered And Stewed. It’s the follow up to 2015’s You Keep The Money, hailed as the hottest debuting blues album of that year.
Honours that have come Cru’s way include the 2014 Blues Foundation’s Keeping The Blues Alive Award (KBA) for Blues Education and being named 2009’s Blues Artist On The Rise by Blues Festival Guide Magazine.
VIDEO: “Month of Somedays” by Tas Cru
Elite Blues Series performances take place in the Nexicom Studio.
Tickets for Tas Cru cost $32 at the Showplace box office, online at www.showplace.org or by phone at 705-742-7469.
Fred Eaglesmith with Tif Ginn on Saturday, November 12 at 8 p.m.
Tif Ginn and Fred Eaglesmith (publicity photo)
Legendary Canadian alt-country singer and songwriter Fred Eaglesmith gives local “Fredheads” cause to rejoice, bringing his extensive repertoire to Showplace, joined by his wife and music partner Tif Ginn.
VIDEO: “Careless” by Fred Eaglesmith on The Late Show with David Letterman
A frequent collaborator with the late Willie P. Bennett of Peterborough, Eaglesmith has fronted numerous bands with colourful names, among them The Flathead Noodlers.
Eaglesmith’s live shows are well known for the stories he shares, all culled from experiences on the road.
Tickets for Fred Eaglesmith cost $31 at the Showplace box office, online at www.showplace.org or by phone at 705-742-7469.
Elite Blues Series presents Al Black and Rezonator on Saturday, December 17 at 8 p.m.
Al Black performing at Love For Lydia, a fundraising concert for his granddaughter (photo: Linda McIlwain / kawarthaNOW)
If it’s local musicians you want, it’s local musicians you’ll get as drummer/singer Al Black of Jackson Delta fame joins Rezonator — Frank Watt, JP Hovercraft, Brent Farrow, and Chris Hiney — for an evening of classic rock with a bluesy edge.
Rezonator (publicity photo)
Formed in 2011, Rezonator covers the music of many bands, among them Steely Dan, The Rolling Stones and ZZ Top.
Elite Blues Series performances take place in the Nexicom Studio.
Tickets for Al Black and Rezonator cost $28 at the Showplace box office, www.showplace.org or by phone at 705-742-7469.
VIDEO: “Howling For My Darling” – Al Black and The Steady Band
VIDEO: “Haitian Divorce” performed by Rezonator
Natalie MacMaster and Donnell Leahy: A Celtic Family Christmas on Thursday, December 22 at 7:30 p.m. and Friday, December 23 at 2 and 7:30 p.m.
Arguably two of the world’s finest fiddle players come together once again to present their heart-stopping, hand-clapping, foot-stomping homage to the holiday season.
Douro-raised Leahy and Cape Breton-born MacMaster form an explosive, high-energy duo that entertains from start to finish with jigs and reels and everything else in between.
The two musicians are releasing a branch new Christmas album, A Celtic Family Christmas, on October 28th, so you can expect to see an incredible array of talented musicians — including their own children.
“We’ve taken some classic Christmas songs and flavoured them with our own brand of Celtic tradition,’ McMaster says. “We have celebrated Christmas in a big way our entire lives and finally have recorded the music.”
Natalie MacMaster and Donnell Leahy will perform tunes from their new record A Celtic Family Christmas (publicity photo)
As only a few tickets are still left for the evening performances, the husband-and-wife virtuosos have added a third, matinee performance at 2 p.m. on Friday, December 23rd.
All three Showplace appearances last year sold out very quickly — a fitting testament to the duo’s enduring popularity.
Tickets for Natalie MacMaster and Donnell Leahy cost $68.50 at the Showplace box office, online at www.showplace.org or by phone at 705-742-7469.
VIDEO: “The Chase” – Natalie MacMaster and Donnell Leahy
Clockwise from top left: a unique home on a point from Jo Pillon of Royal LePage Frank Real Estate; a horse farm near Paudash Lake from Emma Kearns of Century 21; a beautiful red brick home in Hastings recently inspected by County Home Inspection; and a historic retail location in downtown Peterborough from The Galvin Team at RE/MAX Eastern Realty Inc.
In our new real estate column, we feature tours of some of the most unique properties available for sale in the Kawarthas.
This month we tour a home on a breathtaking 1200-foot point, a horse farm in the heart of cottage country, and a heritage building home to renowned designer Angela Mark’s fashion house. We will also look at some of the most common problems found by home inspectors.
Unique 1960s home available on a magnificent 1200-foot point
This breathtaking property has a home, a boathouse, 2 outbuildings and 2400 feet of shoreline. (Photo: Scene from Above)
The story of this home begins with a point. Pigtail Point, a beautifully winding natural point in Chemong Lake.
Doctor Donald Aitken, one of the founding doctors of the Medical Centre in Peterborough, purchased the property at the very end of Fife Bay Marina Lane. According to listing agent Jo Pillon, he would bring his children to the property and plan, envisioning everything before it came to be.
The property now features a home, a bunkie, a boathouse, and a large potting shed.
This breathtaking property has a home, a boathouse, 2 outbuildings and 2400 feet of shoreline. (Photo: Scene from Above)
The great room features a stone fireplace and cathedral ceilings. (Photo: Peterborough Fine Homes Photography)
The open concept setup in the great room was well ahead of its time. (Photo: Peterborough Fine Homes Photography)
A copper acorn fireplace on the lower level is still in use. (Photo: Peterborough Fine Homes Photography)
The verandah off the master bedroom and great room has a beautiful view of Chemong Lake. (Photo: Eva Fisher)
For more information about this property and others call Jo Pillon at 705-748-4056. (Photo: Jo Pillon Royal Lepage)
Mid century modern design
The round log home features many original elements from the ’60s and ’70s, including a gorgeous copper acorn stove on the lower level, still in use. The great room still contains the original pegged oak floors. Certain rooms feel as if they could have been pulled from a Wes Anderson film.
The great room is open concept, with a cathedral ceiling and a stunning decommissioned stone fireplace. Jo says that an open concept floorplan was unheard of in the early ’60s. “Dr. Aitken was miles ahead of his time.”
The house was built with futuristic-for-its-time features like an intercom system connecting the house, the boathouse, and the bunkie. The lights were all wired with switches at the bedside of the master bedroom, so you could turn them all off before going to sleep.
The house also contains a plumbed greenhouse with plexiglass walls. Jo says that returning it to its former purpose is fairly simple. “It’s just a matter of replacing the roof.”
The wetslip boathouse has been plumbed and wired, and has a large games room, a sunporch, a toilet and a kitchenette.
Gorgeous natural shoreline
Underpinning the property is its most striking feature, the point itself. Beautifully treed with a trail running right down to the edge, Jo says that wildlife sightings are not unusual. “The last time I walked there I sat with a huge osprey who was nesting there. It’s a really good nesting ground for wild birds.”
A total of 2400 feet of breathtaking shoreline surrounds the home. Sitting in the great room, the cathedral ceiling appears to shimmer with light reflected off of the lake. With large windows on either side of the home overlooking the water, that’s probably just how Dr. Aitken planned it.
Find this and more of Jo’s listings on her website at www.lookingforahome.ca. She can be reached by phone at 705-748-4056, and you can sometimes find her in the Royal LePage office at 244 Aylmer Street in Peterborough.
A virtual tour of 868 Fifes Bay Marina Lane
A dreamy 36-acre horse farm close to Paudash Lake
This 36-acre horse farm is close to Paudash Lake, a popular destination for cottagers. (Photo: Dan Parker)
Imagine, after a morning riding your horse on the trail, you cool your horse down, untack, and take a quick dip in Paudash Lake.
“There is none like this property in the area,” says Emma Kearns, real estate agent with Century 21. The property that she refers to is a spectacular 36-acre horse farm at 1422 Upper Paudash Road, a five-minute drive from Silent Lake Provincial Park.
The house features three bedrooms, a four-piece bathroom, a balcony with beautiful views, and an attached one-car garage. There is a two bedroom in-law suite with a private entrance, barnboard ceilings, and a cozy gas stove.
This 36-acre horse farm is close to Paudash Lake, a popular destination for cottagers. (Photo: Dan Parker)
Barnboard ceilings and a gas stove in the in-law suite make for cozy nights indoors. (Photo: Dan Parker)
The open concept kitchen, dining, and living space features a beautiful view (Photo: Dan Parker)
The balcony overlooks rolling countryside replete with mature trees and beautiful fields. (Photo: Dan Parker)
15 stable comfort stalls and a heated tack room make this a great place to keep horses. (Photo: Dan Parker)
For more information about this property, contact Emma Kearns at 613-332-9080. (Photo: Dan Parker)
A beautiful natural setting
The Paudash Lake area is home to a variety of wildlife including moose, otters, and turtles. The pink granite cliffs in Paudash’s North Bay are popular with swimmers.
In the winter, the Paudash Lake area is known for its snowmobile trails and its ice fishing. Nearby Silent Lake Provincial Park features over 40 kilometres of cross-country ski trails, with warming huts heated by wood fire along the way.
A place that you and your horse can call home
The farm currently hosts 12 horses who board there. Emma says “this is a place your horse can call home.” The farm features a barn with 15 stable comfort stalls, which require less bedding than a conventional stall and are easier to muck out. There is also a heated tack room, indoor and outdoor riding arenas, a round pen, 12 fenced paddocks, and trails.
When I asked Emma what someone considering purchasing a horse farm should keep in mind, she joked that you should “watch your step!”
The property features mature trees, perennial gardens, and a pond. There is also a large drive shed with a workshop, ideal for the person who always has a project on the go.
View this property and more on Emma Kearns’s website at www.bancroftwaterfront.com. You can also find Emma on Facebook and Twitter. She can be reached by phone at (613) 332-9080, or look for her in her office at 2 Hastings St in Bancroft.
A virtual tour of 1422 Upper Paudash Road
What to expect when you’re inspecting: common home inspection problems demystified with County Home Inspection
Recently inspected: this beautiful red brick home with an upstairs sunporch in Hastings. (Photo: David Sharman)
Registered Home Inspector David Sharman, owner of County Home Inspection, has seen a lot of properties in the Kawarthas.
He has wriggled through crawlspaces, climbed through dusty attics, and seen the view from rooftops throughout the region to give home buyers a better picture of what they are planning to buy.
A typical report from David includes information about the structure and roof, electrical and plumbing, heating and cooling, insulation and ventilation, and interior (doors and windows) and exterior (grading) of a home.
Recently inspected: this beautiful red brick home with an upstairs sunporch in Hastings. (Photo: David Sharman)
Recently inspected: this immaculate home with an attached two-car garage in East City. (Photo: David Sharman)
Recently inspected: this stunning Peterborough home with bay windows and mature trees. (Photo: David Sharman)
Recently inspected: this Peterborough south end property with a charming front porch. (Photo: David Sharman)
Recently inspected: this beautifully treed garden retreat located in the village of Kinmount. (Photo: David Sharman)
For more information, contact David Sharman at County Home Inspection at 705-957-3642 (Photo: Amy McLeish)
Common issues found during a home inspection
So what are some of the most common issues that David finds?
According to David, grading is a big one. “Grading is a really common issue, both in older and new build homes.” Grading refers to the way the soil is sloped around the base of the home. A property that hasn’t been graded properly can direct water to the home’s foundation, which can lead to problems with moisture in the basement and possibly to issues with the foundation.
Minor electrical issues are another common problem, and one that can vary in severity and cost.
Problems with the roof can mean water damage to the home. David says that “the condition of roof shingles can be really variable.”
According to David, condensate leaks in high efficiency furnaces are something that are becoming more and more typical. This results in water leaking around the furnace, which could damage the furnace, finishes, and even the structure.
These problems don’t necessarily mean that you shouldn’t buy a home, but knowing about a property’s issues ahead of time and planning to address them can help you to prevent nasty surprises in the future.
David recalls one property in particular, a flip, which looked like a great value on the surface. “During the home inspection, we found issue after issue with the quality of the seller’s workmanship, which probably devalued the home and most definitely put off the buyers.”
How to choose a home inspector
If you’re interested in hiring a home inspector, David recommends speaking to several before you make your decision. “make sure you ask enough questions and get a good feel for them. Ask about their experience, if they are full or part-time, ask to see a copy of the report you will receive, ask about which professional associations they may be members of and to see testimonials from previous clients.”
No matter what property you are looking at, the right home inspector can help you make sure you’re making the right decision and avoid costly mistakes.
You can reach County Home Inspection by phone at 705-957-3642, or look for them in their office at 459 George Street North in Peterborough. They are online at www.countyhomeinspection.ca, or find them on Twitter, Instagram and Facebook.
Bright heritage commercial building is a fashion landmark in the heart of downtown
The front entrance of 231 King Street features a fleur de lis railing made by a Toronto ironsmith. (Photo: Doug Logan, Fine Homes Photography)
The red brick building at the corner of King and Aylmer in downtown Peterborough isn’t just a prime commercial location, it’s a piece of Peterborough history. The heritage building at 231 King Street was home to talented local designer Angela Mark’s fashion house for the past 25 years.
Angela, who is closing her fashion business in pursuit of other ventures, says that the building has lots of character. “I think that whoever has it will be quite happy here. It’s a great building. It’s got a lovely feel to it. It really does have its own personality. It’s a happy place.”
The showroom is beautifully lit, with gleaming hardwood floors. The second and third floors are currently used as a fashion design studio and office, but the space could be rented as apartments as an additional income source.
The front entrance of 231 King Street features a fleur de lis railing made by a Toronto ironsmith. (Photo: Doug Logan, Fine Homes Photography)
The building has plenty of character; according to Angela Mark, "It's a happy place." (Photo: Doug Logan, Fine Homes Photography)
Large bay windows give light and capitalize on the building's heavy drive by traffic. (Photo: Doug Logan, Fine Homes Photography)
The second floor, with its beautiful hardwood floors, could be used as an apartment. (Photo: Doug Logan, Fine Homes Photography)
The spacious attic features exposed trusses, and is currently used for fabric storage. (Photo: Doug Logan, Fine Homes Photography)
For more information about this and other listings, contact the Galvin Team at 705-743-9111 (Photo: The Galvin Team)
Updates with a designer touch
When Angela bought the property it was known as the Bird Cage Emporium, an eclectic bed and breakfast. During her time at 231 King Street, she made a number of improvements.
The front entrance was recently redone with interlocking brick. An ironsmith from Toronto created a railing incorporating the fleur de lis, a classic French touch and a nod to Angela’s Quebec heritage.
She also painted the door red. Since then people have come with paint chips trying to match the colour, but according to Angela “it was just something I conjured up.” It must be nice to have designer taste.
The attic has exposed trusses and an open floorplan. It’s currently being used for storage and fabric cutting.
A commercial location with great potential
Lorrie Tom, Sales Representative for The Galvin Team, says that the busy location is a key advantage of this property. “There are people who drive by it every day. It has optimum exposure for a business.”
Angela installed large bay windows at the front and side of the building, taking advantage of the building’s great exposure.
Entrepreneurs will drool over the C6 zoning, which according to Lorrie is “the most liberal commercial zoning.”
The location also has great access to parking, with three spaces on site, street parking, and a parking garage nearby.
The Galvin Team at RE/MAX Eastern Realty Inc. can be reached at 91 George St. N., Peterborough, or by phone at 705-743-9111. Visit their website at www.thegalvinteam.com to view this and other listings, or find them on Facebook.
Peterborough Folk Festival presents Canadian singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Donovan Woods with special guest Joey Landreth at the Gordon Best Theatre in Peterborough on Sunday, October 23 (publicity photo)
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 20 to Wednesday, October 26.
If you’re a pub or club owner and want to be included in our weekly listings, please email our Nightlife Editor at nightlife@kawarthanow.com.
7-9pm - Trent Philosophy Society Beginning-of-the-Year Party
Coming Soon
Wednesday, November 9 2-6pm - Trent Student Psychology Society presents Meet the Professors
Chemong Lodge
764 Hunter St., Bridgenorth
(705) 292-8435
Thursdays
5-9pm - Pianist Barry McMullen (dining room)
Fridays
5-9pm - Pianist Barry McMullen (dining room)
The Church-key Pub & Grindhouse
26 Bridge St. W., Campbellford
(705) 653-0001
Thursday, October 20
9pm - Tuborg w/ Ray on the Radio
Friday, October 21
9pm - Sue and Mike
Saturday, October 22
9pm - Lukash Chabursky
Mondays
Trivia Monday
Wednesdays
Whiskey Wednesday w/ Ken Tizzard
Coach & Horses Pub
16 York St. S., Lindsay
(705) 328-0006
Thursdays
10pm - Open Jam w/ Gerald Vanhalteren
Wednesdays
7-11pm - Live music
Coming Soon
Saturday, November 5 5:30-9pm - Newfoundland Night 2016 in support of A Place Called Home ft music by John Turner ($30, at http://www.apch.ca/events/nl)
Dobro Restaurant & Bar
287-289 George St. N., Peterborough
(705) 775-9645
Thursday, October 20
10pm - Robin Hawkins Band (no cover)
Friday, October 21
10pm - Kevin Carley Band
Saturday, October 22
10pm - Marty and The Mojos
Wednesdays
Open stage
Dominion Hotel
113 Main St., Minden
(705) 286-6954
Saturday, October 22
2pm - Kitchen Party Music Jam (free, musicians and fans welcome)
Coming Soon
Saturday, October 29 2pm - Kitchen Party Music Jam (free, musicians and fans welcome)
Embers Grill House
38 Bolton St., Bobcaygeon
(705) 738-6343
Coming Soon
Wednesday, November 2 Open Mic Night w/ host Richard Kyle
The Peterborough Theatre Guild's production of "My Narrator" stars Tina Johnston as Lacey's narrator Barb, Nicole Roy as Lacy, Derek Weatherdon as Miles, and Mark Gray as Mile's narrator Bob (photo: Peterborough Theatre Guild / Facebook)
Each October, the Peterborough Theatre Guild opens up the Gwen Brown Studio to preview their submission to the Eastern Ontario Drama League One-Act Festival, which takes place from November 11th to 13th in Perth.
This year, the Guild is giving the audience something to really fall in love with. In his directorial debut at the Peterborough Theatre Guild, Hugh MacMillan presents Norm Foster’s My Narrator.
Featuring Tina Johnston, Nicole Roy, Derek Weatherdon, and Mark Gray, My Narrator is an original love story that’s modern, clever, and extremely relatable. It’s a story about two people in survival mode — and about the voices in their heads. Simply put, it’s one of the most charming and funny love stories I’ve possibly ever seen on the Peterborough stage.
Peterborough Theatre Guild presents My Narrator
When: Thursday, October 20 to Saturday, October 22, 2016 at 8 p.m.; Sunday, October 23 at 2 p.m. Where: Peterborough Theatre Guild (364 Rogers St., Peterborough) How much: $8.25
Written by Norm Foster, directed by Hugh MacMillan, and starring Tina Johnston as Barb, Nicole Roy as Lacy, Derek Weatherdon as Miles, and Mark Gray as Bob.
Tickets may be purchased from the Box Office between 5:30 and 8 p.m. on Thursdays and Fridays.
One of Canada’s most popular playwrights, Norm Foster first debuted My Narrator at the Lunchbox Theatre in Calgary in 2006. The one-act play tells the story of the relationship between Lacy (Nicole Roy) and Miles (Derek Weatherdon), two people barely surviving and prone to bad decisions. Lacy is an artist, albeit not a very original one. Miles is a men’s wear salesman — at least this week, as he’s never been able to hold down a steady job.
When Miles first sees Nicole walk into his store, he is immediately attracted to her. However, Lacy is not so sure about Derek. You see, Lacy has a voice in her head named Barb (played by Tina Johnston) who provides an ongoing dialogue to prevent Lacy from repeating mistakes and falling in potential traps. When Miles learns of Lacy’s “narrator”, he develops his own wise and sophisticated narrator named Bob (played by Mark Gray).
As Miles and Lacy start dating, their narrators develop their own unique relationship with each other … with surprising results. I don’t want to say much more than that as I don’t want to ruin the surprises, but what follows is a charming tale of human relationships, risk taking, and the connection between your inner voice and your heart and mind.
It’s difficult to describe the dynamic between the characters of Lacy and Miles and their narrators Barb and Bob, but I’ll try. While the action takes place on the stage, Barb and Bob stand just to the side of the stage, addressing the audience about what their characters are (and, more often than not, should be) thinking.
The two characters’ personal narrators stand just to the side of the stage, addressing the audience about what their characters are (and, more often than not, should be) thinking (photo: Peterborough Theatre Guild / Facebook)
Meanwhile, Miles and Lacy are aware of how their personal narrators are influencing and not influencing their actions. The two characters and their personal narrators often interact, and the narrators are able to interact with each other. It may seem confusing but, when you see it, it all makes sense.
The true beauty of the show is the perfect casting and the warm and witty chemistry of both the characters and their personal narrators. It is this perfect combination of actors that makes My Narrator so delightful.
With her pink hair and bohemian looks, Nicole Roy is edgy and beautiful and embodies the poor artist living below the poverty line. With his long curls and dark-rimmed glasses, Derek Weatherdon is a modern Mr. Lucas (from the British sitcom Are You Being Served?), bumbling over his words and trying hard to impress a woman who is “out of his league.”
Together they are mismatched and somewhat tragic, but absolutely adorable. Playful, spunky and full of witty banter and subtle double takes, the chemistry between Nicole and Derek is perfect in all its imperfections. It is such a joy to see these two on the stage together.
Mark Gray as Myles’ personal narrator Bob. The paintings, loaned to the production by local artist Jane Hall, are available for sale after the production run. (Photo: Peterborough Theatre Guild / Facebook)
Their narrators also have their own unique chemistry. Matriarchal and sensible, Barb is out to save Lacy from herself. Meanwhile, Bob is dignified, worldly and smoot, much like a cross between Jiminy Cricket and Roger Moore. As entertaining as it is to watch Nicole and Derek together on stage, it is equally as entertaining to watch the sparks fly between Tina and Mark in the wings.
Together the four make a scrumptious quartet. If the characters don’t find love in one another, they are going to find love from the audience who are immediately invested in them the moment they step on the stage.
A special mention goes to local artist Jane Hall who loaned her paintings to the production (which are all available for sale). But, as the cast says at the end of the play, if anyone wants to purchases the art they need to wait until at least the end of the run!
The annual entries into the Eastern Ontario Drama League One Act Festival are always interesting theatre, but I truly believe that My Narrator should take the award for the best entry. The play is relatable, delightful, smart, and hip. It’s a perfect piece of theatre that you can’t afford to miss and, with a ticket price of only $8.25, it’s also very affordable. If you see only one show at the Peterborough Theatre Guild this season, I recommend this one.
My Narrator runs from October 19th to 23rd at the Peterborough Theatre Guild in the Gwen Brown Studio. Performances start at 8 p.m., except for October 23rd with a 2 p.m. show.
If you miss it in Peterborough, you can take the drive to Perth on the weekend of November 11th to 13th to watch this talented cast compete against other local theatres across Eastern Ontario. Visit www.theatreguild.org for more information.
Kawartha Lakes City Hall in Lindsay (photo: Wikipedia)
At the next municipal election in 2018, residents of the City of Kawartha Lakes will be voting for eight instead of 16 councillors.
The City of Kawartha Lakes Council voted to reduce the size of council at a meeting on Tuesday (October 17th).
The existing 16 wards and their boundaries in the City of Kawartha Lakes (graphic: City of Kawartha Lakes)
“This decision shows that Council is serious about changing the way we do business,” Mayor Andy Letham says. “We are transitioning from the system established with the creation of the municipality to a more focused way of servicing residents.”
Earlier this year, the City of Kawartha Lakes undertook a review of its core services that included ward boundaries and the size of council. The review included public consultation through an online survey, town hall meetings, a dedicated email address, and other outreach activities.
The majority of public responses favoured a reduction in the size of council.
By the end of January 2017, City staff will produce a report with boundary options for a four-ward and eight-ward system to represent the city’s population. Both options will limit the size of council to eight councillors and one mayor.
The changes will take effect at the next election, scheduled for October 22, 2018.
Making homemade Halloween decorations is a great way to reuse items laying around the house, cut down on disposable, single use decor, save money, and the planet. This house on Park Street in Peterborough has made a spooky front yard display with tree bark, scrap wood, and a little spray paint. (Photo: GreenUP)
Autumn weather is upon us. The beautiful red, orange, and yellow leaves remind me of my favourite upcoming holiday — Halloween. Celebrate Waste Reduction Week, running October 17th to the 23rd, by adding more green than orange, and make it a sustainable holiday. It may not be as “tricky” as you think!
Each week, GreenUP provides a story related to the environment. This week’s story is by Danica Jarvis, GreenUP Environmental Education Coordinator.
The Halloween industry is littered with one-time-use plastics heading to our landfills. With a little imagination, we can make this year a green Halloween. There are many ways to reduce the holiday footprint, such as creating a costume from recycled and reused materials, cutting down on disposable decorations, and reducing candy wrapper waste.
Here is a scary statistic; North Americans spend around $80 billion dollars each year on Halloween. That is around $80 for every person! Here are a few ideas to save money, and the planet.
1. Make your own costume or rent one
Costumes are one way that we create throwaway waste. About one third of us will buy Halloween costumes at retail stores. Instead of buying brand new, check your local thrift store. A new-to-you costume could be waiting for you. Try making your costume by digging out old clothes from the back of the closet and repurposing them in imaginative ways. Raid the recycling bin and reuse cardboard or Styrofoam to make a spooky mask.
If you have something really special in mind, why not rent a costume? Support your local costume store and wear something that can be worn again and again.
2. Make your own decorations
Keep it simple while decorating your haunted house. Make your own decorations out of recycled or reusable materials can be fun. Old toys can be given a new life — think about the possibilities that exist when dolls or old stuffed toys are reimagined in a scary way. Old sheets and clothes can be used to make ghosts and Frankensteins. Piles of leaves make unsuspecting hiding spots for spooky tombstones made from cardboard boxes.
If you have storage space, you can invest in well-made decorations that can be packed away and used again each year. Avoid throwaway decorations such as store bought spider webs that are difficult to repurpose and will end up at the landfill.
3. Don’t just throw away your pumpkin
Pick up your pumpkin from the local farmers market. Carve up your jack-o-lantern and cook those delicious seeds! This cuts down on food waste. After the 31st you can cook up the pumpkin and make a delicious pie! Or, add your pumpkin to the composter.
4. Buy candy with recyclable wrappers or give out candy alternatives
What about trick-or-treating? This year North Americans will buy more than 600 million pounds of candy, just for Halloween. That is a significant amount of sugar — and waste. For every piece of candy, there is a wrapper which ends up at the landfill. It adds up. Most wrappers are not recyclable because they are made from mixed materials.
Look for candy that is packaged with recyclable materials such as cardboard and foil. Hershey kisses are a great example. There are many great alternatives to candy, such as pencils or Lego pieces.
5. Trick-or-treat in your local neighbourhood with a reusable bag
You can cut down on the amount of candy that you collect by planning to visit one or two streets. Choose a walkable route in your neighbourhood instead of driving to others, which helps to lower your car time while also keeping the streets safer. Send your little ghoul with a reusable trick-or-treat bag such as a pillowcase or bucket, which can be used again next year.
Waste Reduction Week runs from October 17th to the 23rd, a great reminder to plan for some homemade Halloween decorations created from the recycle bin, and to dig through the closets for your next DIY costume — make it a sustainable holiday. Have a safe and happy, and green, Halloween from GreenUP!
The sold-out 2016 Peterborough Business Excellence Awards took place at The Trentwinds International Centre on October 19 (photo: Peterborough Chamber of Commerce/ Twitter)
The Greater Peterborough Chamber of Commerce presented its 13th annual Business Excellence Awards at a ceremony at the Trentwinds International Centre last night (October 19th).
The awards publicly recognize and honour local businesses who have demonstrated a passion for excellence.
Fifty-four businesses and individuals were nominated as finalists in 21 categories, including the 4-Under-40 Profiles and the Student Business Leadership Bursaries. Each was profiled at the awards ceremony, with recipients announced at the event.
Lawyer and community volunteer Stephen Kylie was awarded Business Citizen of the Year.
Here are the award recepients:
Publican House Brewery – Entrepreneurial Spirit
Carolina’s Colombia – Supply Chain
Mortlock Construction Inc. – Skilled Trades
Peterborough & the Kawarthas Tourism – Tourism
The Brickhouse Craft Burger – Hospitality
Let’s Get Digital – Micro Business – Fewer than 5 employees
Long & McQuade – Retail – Chain/Franchise
Wild Rock Outfitters Inc. – Retail – Non-Chain/Non-Franchise
Nigina Azimova & Khaja Humayon Sidiqi – Newcomer Entrepreneur of the Year
MicroAge Peterborough – Customer First
Mike Doherty, Adam Noble, Brianna Salmon, Michael VanDerHerberg – 4-Under-40 Profiles /li>
The Land Canadian Adventures – Local Focus
Swish Maintenance Ltd. – Innovation/Research & Development
Ashburnham Realty (242 Hunter Street) – Commercial Development or Renovation
Mega Experience – Marketing & Promotion
GreenUP – Environmental Practices
Hot Yoga Peterborough Wellness Institute – Health & Wellness
Trent University – Not-For-Profit
GM Financial – Employer of the Year
Jungeon Kim – Fleming College (Business Administration – Marketing), David Shadlock – Trent University (Business Administration – Accounting) – Student Business Leadership Bursaries
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