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Peterborough County to open new economic development and tourism office in Lakefield

By Bruce Head -
At its regular meeting on August 7, 2024, Peterborough County council approved a staff recommendation that the county enter into a lease agreement with Selwyn Township effective September 1 for office space in the former post office at 12 Queen Street in Lakefield for the county's new economic development and tourism office. (Photo: Peterborough County)

Peterborough County will be opening an economic development and tourism office in Lakefield as it continues to prepare to assume responsibility for economic development and tourism in advance of the dissolution of Peterborough & The Kawarthas Economic Development (PKED) at the end of the year.

At county council’s regular meeting on Wednesday morning (August 7) — the first regular meeting since June 24 — councillors received an update from PKED and considered two staff reports about preparations for assuming the responsibilities that PKED previously provided on behalf of the county.

Earlier this year, both the city and county of Peterborough decided not to renew a multi-year tri-party agreement to fund PKED to provide economic development and tourism services on behalf of both municipalities. The county’s decision came after the city, which provides most of PKED’s core funding, decided to withdraw from the agreement.

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In a report outlining the activities of the non-profit organization for the first two quarters of 2024, PKED board chair Burton Lee and president and CEO Rhonda Keenan noted two challenges for tourism and economic development as the city and county take these services in-house beginning January 1, 2025.

“Supporting (event organizers) that are interested in Peterborough and what level of support they will receive will continue to be a challenge until a new economic development plan is developed that determines whether this activity is desired, and if so, who will deliver on this work beyond 2024,” the report states.

“The uncertainty regarding the economic development program beyond 2024 and how the work will be transitioned has created a great challenge. Businesses want to understand how
they will be supported; there is little information to provide. Similarly, destination marketing and investment attraction marketing require long lead times for seasonal and out-of-region marketing. There should be a coordinated effort between the City, County and PKED to deliver a coordinated message and assure the entrepreneurial and business community that there is a plan to provide ongoing support.”

During Wednesday’s meeting, councillors were asked to approve a recommendation from county CAO Sheridan Graham that the county enter into an agreement with Selwyn Township on September 1 to lease office space in Lakefield for the purpose of establishing a county economic development and tourism and services hub.

The report from Graham states that the county’s economic development transition committee — which comprises three county councillors and representatives from all eight townships in the county — feels that a public-facing office in the county “is of utmost importance,” along with satellite offices in each township.

“This would be an office that would be staffed and could provide economic development, tourism and other services to our customers,” the report states. “It would be a hub and spoke model, from which our staff could further integrate these services into each Township. The Committee requested that each Township put forward a location that could be used as a satellite office for services in the Township offered by the County and other partners.”

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The proposed location for the new county office is the former post office at 12 Queen Street in Lakefield, which was previously occupied by the Kawartha Chamber of Commerce and Tourism prior to its 2021 amalgamation with the Peterborough Chamber of Commerce to form the Peterborough and Kawarthas Chamber of Commerce. The township completely renovated the space, which is fully accessible and provides public washroom facilities.

According to Graham’s report, both the Peterborough and Kawarthas Chamber of Commerce and Community Futures Peterborough — which is assuming responsibility for the Business Advisory Centre (BAC), offered as part of the province’s Small Business Enterprise Centre (SBEC) program and previously delivered by PKED — have committed to partnering with the county and to use space in the building “to be an office and touch point for their County customers.”

“In addition, they are further committed to continued collaboration with the County and Committee and to coordinating the use of the Township spaces provided to provide services further out into the County in each Township,” the report states. “As well, it is anticipated that we will have staff cross train with Chamber and (Community Futures) staff so that we can align services, provide information and schedule customers accordingly.”

The cost of the county leasing the space from Selwyn Township, which would include the main floor and two upstairs offices, would be $2,400 per month, with the Chamber and Community Futures contributing $500 per month to the lease for a drop-down desk space shared by the two organizations.

Selwyn Township completely renovated the space at 12 Queen Street in Lakefield, which is fully accessible and provides public washroom facilities. In addition to housing Peterborough County's new economic development and tourism office, both Peterborough and Kawarthas Chamber of Commerce and Community Futures Peterborough would maintain a presence in the building, as well as Selwyn Township's own economic development staff. (Photos: Peterborough County)
Selwyn Township completely renovated the space at 12 Queen Street in Lakefield, which is fully accessible and provides public washroom facilities. In addition to housing Peterborough County’s new economic development and tourism office, both Peterborough and Kawarthas Chamber of Commerce and Community Futures Peterborough would maintain a presence in the building, as well as Selwyn Township’s own economic development staff. (Photos: Peterborough County)

“I can’t think of a better location to have our Peterborough County economic development and tourism department,” said deputy warden and Selwyn Township mayor Sherry Senis at the meeting, with Sewlyn Township deputy mayor Ron Black echoing her comments.

“I think one of the key issues here is county services being offered in the county, which is a great step forward, but also the partnerships that were also thought of and created with Community Futures, who has just received provincial funding for the Small Business Advisory Centre, so they’ll have staff there as well, and bringing the Peterborough and Kawarthas Chamber back to their Lakefield office, obviously in a smaller entity, but that created a lot of issues when they left,” Black said.

“So I’m very pleased that (county) staff were able to negotiate not only with our township, but also with Community Futures and the Peterborough and Kawarthas Chamber as well. And Selwyn staff will also be in the building. Our economic development people will be in the building as well.”

Peterborough County warden Bonnie Clark said “this is a great start,” adding that “there is more to come” and that she is “looking forward to this rolling out into the rest of the municipalities (in the county).”

Council voted to approve the recommendation.

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Councillors also considered another staff report that would affect preparations to bring economic development and tourism in-house. Tracie Bertrand, the county’s general manager of tourism and communications, recommended that the county migrate its corporate website to a new platform before the end of the year.

“The current hosting platform for the County’s website, iCreate, will be discontinued in less than two years, necessitating a migration to a new platform,” the report states. “GHD (previously e-Solutions) has offered Peterborough County value pricing (20% discount) to migrate earlier to Govstack, a superior platform that offers more creative freedom and self-management capabilities.”

“Migrating now, rather than waiting is strategic due to the impending discontinuation of iCreate, and essential for the County’s planned transition of Economic Development and Tourism into the County’s digital infrastructure.”

According to the report, a content and information architecture review of the website was completed in May, including a search of municipal best practices of upper and lower tier municipalities who include economic development and tourism, and the website needs to be updated to include “a microsite dedicated to tourism.”

“Communications staff will need to develop the new tourism microsite and work with Economic Development staff to build out new pages in preparation for 2025,” the report states.

The cost to migrate to the new platform and develop a new tourism microsite will be $46,550 plus HST, according to the report.

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While Douro-Dummer Township mayor Heather Watson supported the recommendation, she expressed concerns that e-Solutions Group — which created the iCreate platform before becoming GHD, creating the Govstack platform, and discontinuing the iCreate platform — was an example of a company practising planned obsolescence.

“It’s just dirty pool, what they’ve done,” Watson said. “They created a system, made it obsolete, and now we need to buy their new system in order to play in their sandbox and keep the work we’ve created. What are we doing in the future to mitigate that risk?”

Bertrand replied that this was a “valid concern,” but noted that iCreate is “not overly friendly” for doing anything creative and she has been assured that Govstack is a more flexible platform.

“We can do more on the backend with Govstack than we could ever do with iCreate,” she said. “I’m hoping we don’t have to redevelop the corporate website again, but there’s always the option of looking into that future because things change … we’ll be keeping an eye on what is existing with GHD and what might be out there in the public to look into in the future.”

“It would be the intention when we go to a full new website that we would look at all the options too, not just staying with one provider,” Graham added, noting the migration to Govstack “is to get us through that transition” until the county is ready to make a decision in the future about both its website platform and content management system.

Council voted to approve the recommendation.

Mosquito pool in Northumberland County tests positive for West Nile Virus

By Natalie Hamilton, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter -

An area health unit is asking residents to take precautions as it has a confirmed a case of West Nile Virus (WNV) in mosquito traps set in Brighton.

The Haliburton, Kawartha, Pine Ridge District Health Unit (HKPRDHU) announced Tuesday (August 6) that a mosquito pool in the east Northumberland County municipality has tested positive for the virus.

The health unit said this marks the first positive case in the region for the season. The mosquito was collected from one of the traps set by health officials on August 1.

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HKPRDHU traps and tests mosquitoes on a weekly basis throughout the HKPR district area during the summer and early fall months to monitor for WNV activity. While no mosquitoes tested positive for WNV in the district area last year, there were confirmed human cases in Ontario.

“As we enter the peak season for West Nile Virus, it’s crucial for everyone to take preventive measures seriously,” said Anne Marie Holt, director of health protection with the HKPRDHU, in a media release.

“Protecting yourself from mosquito bites and eliminating standing water around your home are simple yet effective ways to reduce the risk of infection. Negative mosquito pools don’t guarantee that WNV is not present in the community; it only means we didn’t catch a positive mosquito pool. Therefore, it is important for the community to stay vigilant.”

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WNV is a viral infection primarily transmitted through the bite of infected mosquitoes. Although the majority of WNV cases do not show any symptoms, some infected individuals may experience mild flu-like symptoms, including fever, headache, and body aches. Others may develop severe neuro-invasive disease, which disproportionately affects older adults, the release noted.

To prevent WNV, HKPRDHU advises residents to “cover up and clean up”.

Prevent mosquito bites by covering up when outdoors between dusk and dawn, and use insect repellent containing DEET or icaridin. Tidy up at home by removing thick brush, cutting down high vegetation, and removing sources of standing water that can collect in places such as old tires and wheelbarrows. Clean eavestroughs to reduce mosquito habitats.

Also, prevent mosquitoes from coming indoors by ensuring window screens are tight fitting and in good repair.

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The infection is primarily transmitted to humans through the bite of infected mosquitoes, particularly the Culex species.

While not all mosquitoes carry WNV, “it is important to stay informed and take precautions during the peak mosquito season, typically from late spring to early fall,” HKPRDHU notes on its website.

According to the Government of Canada, the first human case of WNV infection in the country was reported in Ontario in 2002. The government currently has data related to the number of human cases of WNV reported between 2002 and 2022.

There were in 47 (preliminary) cases reported in 2022.

Surveillance detects only a portion of the WNV cases in Canada, the government noted. The true number of WNV infections in Canada is likely greater.

Two dead and four seriously injured in multi-vehicle collision on Highway 28 south of Bancroft

By kawarthaNOW -

Two people are dead and four are seriously injured after a multi-vehicle collision on Highway 28 south of Bancroft on Tuesday afternoon (August 6).

At around 3:30 p.m. on Tuesday, Bancroft Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) and emergency services responded to a collision involving a commercial vehicle, two passenger vehicles, and two motorcycles on Highway 28 south of Otter Lake Road at Kawartha Dairy.

Although police have not confirmed any details about the collision, kawarthaNOW has learned that two southbound motorcycles were turning left off the highway into Kawartha Dairy when a southbound truck travelling at speed hit a passenger vehicle stopped behind them. The collision forced the passenger vehicle to strike the two motorcycles, while the truck went on to hit a second passenger vehicle travelling northbound.

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Two people were pronounced dead at the scene, two people were airlifted to a trauma hospital with life-threatening injuries, and another two people transported to hospital in Bancroft with life-threatening injuries. Police have not released any details about the victims.

kawarthaNOW has also learned that one of the four people transported to hospital has since succumbed to their injuries, although this information has not been confirmed by police.

Highway 28 between Monck Road and Highway 118 was closed for around 10 hours while police documented the scene. Police are continuing to investigate the cause of the collision.

 

Editor’s note: although kawarthaNOW has received several photos of the scene of the collision, we have chosen not to publish them.

‘Whatever you want to do, there is a career in aviation’: The Loomex Group

By Megan Gallant -
If you're looking for a career in aviation, the Peterborough Airport is home to 22 businesses in the aerospace sector that employ more than 500 workers in a wide range of positions. Leading the continued expansion of the Peterborough Airport is The Loomex Group, which has grown from five employees in 2008 to more than 100 today. "Whatever you want to do, there's a career in aviation," says The Loomex Group's President and CEO Trent Gervais. (Photo courtesy of The Loomex Group)

If you’re looking for work in Peterborough & the Kawarthas, you might not be aware of a flourishing industry that offers ample opportunities for a rewarding career: aerospace. The Peterborough region, including the airport, is home to a robust aerospace and defence supply chain.

Since launching the airport development program in 2010, the Peterborough Airport has seen the number of jobs double from 251 to more than 500, and GDP grow even more, from $40 million to $90 million. And that’s just the beginning, as the aerospace sector in Peterborough & the Kawarthas is headed for even greater growth over the next several years.

“Peterborough is set to become Eastern Ontario’s leading airport,” says Trent Gervais, President and CEO of The Loomex Group. “We’ve got Highway 407 providing easy access to Toronto, and the Peterborough Airport has a 7,000-foot runway that can accommodate Boeing 737 and Airbus 320 operations, with lots of room to grow.”

Headquartered at the Peterborough Airport, The Loomex Group a fully Canadian owned and operated company that provides a diverse range of services in aerospace and defence, infrastructure and asset management, emergency management, and education and compliance. (Photo courtesy of The Loomex Group)
Headquartered at the Peterborough Airport, The Loomex Group a fully Canadian owned and operated company that provides a diverse range of services in aerospace and defence, infrastructure and asset management, emergency management, and education and compliance. (Photo courtesy of The Loomex Group)

The Loomex Group, whose head office is one of 22 businesses operating out of the Peterborough Airport, is a stellar example of the growth of the aerospace sector in Peterborough & the Kawarthas.

Launching with just five employees in 2008, the company now sits at about 100 employees across four companies working in diverse services including aerospace and defence, infrastructure and asset management, emergency management, and education and compliance. In May 2020, The Loomex Group acquired ACF Associates Inc. and moved the defence company’s head office to the Peterborough Airport.

Parent company Loomex works with airports, all levels of government, and Indigenous communities across Canada and into the United States. But, according to Gervais, Peterborough remains “home.”

Since launching the airport development program in 2010, the Peterborough Airport has seen the number of jobs double from 251 to more than 500, and GDP grow even more, from $40 million to $90 million. (Photo courtesy of The Loomex Group)
Since launching the airport development program in 2010, the Peterborough Airport has seen the number of jobs double from 251 to more than 500, and GDP grow even more, from $40 million to $90 million. (Photo courtesy of The Loomex Group)

“We invested in Peterborough Airport and built a 22,000-square-foot headquarters,” says Gervais. “We had expansion plans and wanted to cement our commitment to Peterborough and invest in the airport because we believe in it. That was our thinking at the expansion, and we still believe that with all that’s going on, we’re in the right place to lead from.”

With The Loomex Group offering so many services to clients across the country, there is opportunity to explore a wide range of job opportunities, including at the company’s Peterborough Airport headquarters.

“I always say that, whatever you want to do, there’s a career in aviation — whether you want to be a painter, or electrician, or work in sales, marketing, management, strategy, or tactics,” says Gervais. “Whatever you want to do, there’s a big demand. Aviation is big in Canada and it’s growing by the millions every year.”

In 2014, The Loomex Group built its 22,000-square-foot headquarters at the Peterborough Airport and continues to expand, recently acquiring ACF Associates Inc. and moving the defence company's head office to the Peterborough Airport. (Photo courtesy of The Loomex Group)
In 2014, The Loomex Group built its 22,000-square-foot headquarters at the Peterborough Airport and continues to expand, recently acquiring ACF Associates Inc. and moving the defence company’s head office to the Peterborough Airport. (Photo courtesy of The Loomex Group)

Gervais notes that a benefit to The Loomex Group being a medium-sized company is employees know exactly who they are working with, while still having opportunities for movement and advancement within the company.

“We try to promote within, and we really believe in that projection of asking what you want to do and helping you get there,” Gervais explains, referring to the concept of a career ladder — a tool that helps workers understand the path from an entry-level position in their chosen profession to progressively more senior positions.

“You can go with a company that’s got two or three thousand employees and you’re just a number,” Gervais says. “Whereas here, people matter and are our biggest investments.”

Employment opportunities at The Loomex Group include management and strategy, sales and marketing, operations and maintenance including skilled trades, and more. (Photo courtesy of The Loomex Group)
Employment opportunities at The Loomex Group include management and strategy, sales and marketing, operations and maintenance including skilled trades, and more. (Photo courtesy of The Loomex Group)

In addition to its operations out of the Peterborough Airport, Loomex operates northern airports for communities including the City of Dryden and the Municipality of Greenstone in Ontario.

Airports in northern locations are often part of critical operations including wildland fire fighting, medivacs, and search and rescue, and provide connectivity for businesses in those communities. The company also operates an aerodrome for a mine north of Timmins, providing operations and airport management and managing flights to carry workers to and from the mine.

With so many opportunities both at its Peterborough Airport headquarters and through remote work in rural communities, The Loomex Group offers aviation students the opportunities for student placements and hires recent graduates from post-secondary schools with studies in aviation management. The company also supports hiring those who aren’t necessarily experienced in aviation but have experience in the skilled trades.

The Loomex Group's Emergency Exercise Simulator at its Peterborough Airport headquarters. Along with services in aerospace and defence and infrastructure and asset management, the company provides emergency management and education and compliance. (Photo courtesy of The Loomex Group)
The Loomex Group’s Emergency Exercise Simulator at its Peterborough Airport headquarters. Along with services in aerospace and defence and infrastructure and asset management, the company provides emergency management and education and compliance. (Photo courtesy of The Loomex Group)

Facilitating employment opportunities in the fast-growing aviation industry is also a goal of the Peterborough Airport itself, which is owned by the City of Peterborough and looked upon as an economic driver and tool for job creation.

Already a hub for aerospace education and research, the Peterborough Airport and airport tenants work in partnership with the Peterborough Victoria Northumberland and Clarington Catholic District School Board to offer the Aviation and Aerospace Specialist High Skills Major program. Through an eight-week paid summer placement, high school students gain valuable on-site experience working with businesses located at the airport, introducing them to and preparing them for a future in aviation.

“There is so much need for future aviators and employees in this sector,” says Kyle Bruce, the Manager of Airport Administration at the Peterborough Airport. “It’s a critical link to meet the needs and help the industry grow by providing that exposure to students while they’re young, and inspiring young aviators to explore different jobs and opportunities that are out there.”

The presence of Seneca Polytechnic’s School of Aviation at the Peterborough Airport, along with nearby Trent University and Fleming College in Peterborough, gives The Loomex Group access to post-secondary students who may be interested in an aerospace career. (Photo courtesy of The Loomex Group)
The presence of Seneca Polytechnic’s School of Aviation at the Peterborough Airport, along with nearby Trent University and Fleming College in Peterborough, gives The Loomex Group access to post-secondary students who may be interested in an aerospace career. (Photo courtesy of The Loomex Group)

Gervais agrees, and notes that the presence of Seneca College, Trent University, and Fleming College also gives The Loomex Group access to post-secondary students who may be interested in an aerospace career.

“I’m a big supporter of our local colleges and universities, and we know education is important,” he says. “Having access to those institutions has been a big benefit to being based here in Peterborough when trying to attract aerospace and defence businesses to the airport.”

For Gervais, many students who have come out of the Aviation and Aerospace Specialist High Skills Major program, or a co-op placement at one of the nearby post-secondary schools, have continued to build on their experience to move into more senior roles with The Loomex Group.

“We have some really great success stories from the program,” he says, sharing that one of the first graduates went to study aviation management after high school and was subsequently hired by The Loomex Group. “He started building his positions through us to the point where he became an airport manager at one of our sites.”

Owned by the City of Peterborough, the Peterborough Airport is an economic driver for job creation in the fast-growing aviation industry in Peterborough & the Kawarthas. Set to become Eastern Ontario's leading airport, the airport has a 7,000-foot runway that can accommodate Boeing 737 and Airbus 320 operations, with lots of room to grow. (Photo courtesy of The Loomex Group)
Owned by the City of Peterborough, the Peterborough Airport is an economic driver for job creation in the fast-growing aviation industry in Peterborough & the Kawarthas. Set to become Eastern Ontario’s leading airport, the airport has a 7,000-foot runway that can accommodate Boeing 737 and Airbus 320 operations, with lots of room to grow. (Photo courtesy of The Loomex Group)

With parent company Loomex offering so many services and operating across different regions, The Loomex Group’s employees also have ample opportunities to move to different jobs or locations.

“They can go anywhere within our group of companies,” Gervais notes. “They may start in remote areas to get experience and then transfer somewhere else. You don’t have to stay in the Loomex lane, and the diversity of projects is different every day.”

No matter where an employee may be on their career ladder, Gervais assures one thing: all employees are paid above the living wage of the community in which they are based.

“Nobody should have to work below that living wage, so we pay fairly well above that and it’s one of our commitments to our staff,” says Gervais, noting that it’s part of showing appreciation for all staff. “The tagline for our staff is ‘We’re one team, one mission’ so everybody matters. It doesn’t matter whether we’re sweeping floors or you’re in my office, we’re all the same, and everybody matters.”

As well as paying all of its employees more than the living wage of the community in which they are based, The Loomex Group prides itself on promoting from within to give staff opportunities for movement and advancement within the company. (Photo courtesy of The Loomex Group)
As well as paying all of its employees more than the living wage of the community in which they are based, The Loomex Group prides itself on promoting from within to give staff opportunities for movement and advancement within the company. (Photo courtesy of The Loomex Group)
Related stories

Seneca Polytechnic’s School of Aviation at the Peterborough Airport helps careers take flight

Flying Colours Corp attracts a skilled and friendly workforce for its aerospace business at the Peterborough Airport

Safran Electronics & Defense soars into the future of aerospace

High school students take their career plans to new heights with the Build & Soar Program

The Peterborough Airport continues to soar with aerospace employment opportunities

As for those considering a career in the aviation industry, Gervais says there’s nothing like it.

“Whether it’s building or repairing an aircraft and seeing it fly out, or being a nurse on a medevac, or just seeing them take off and land — how rewarding is that?” says Gervais. “The opportunities here are just limitless.”

For more information about The Loomex Group, visit loomex.ca.

Explore employment opportunities at the Peterborough Airport at peterborough.ca/en/doing-business/airport-services.aspx.

 

This branded editorial is one of a series created in partnership with Peterborough & the Kawarthas Economic Development. If your organization or business is interested in a branded editorial, contact us.

Dwayne Gretzky assures a nostalgia-steeped Wednesday night in Del Crary Park

By Paul Rellinger -
Toronto-based pop-rock time machine Dwayne Gretzky returns to Peterborough Musicfest for the firth time to perform a free-admission concert at Del Crary Park on August 7, 2024. (Photo: Arden Wray)
Peterborough Musicfest presents
Dwayne Gretzky

When:Wednesday, August 7, 2024 at 8 p.m.
Where: Del Crary Park (100 George St. N., Peterborough)
How much: Free admission

Bring your own lawn chairs or blankets (lawn chairs are available to rent). VIP seating available for sponsors. No smoking, alcohol, or pets permitted. There’s no public parking at Del Crary Park, but there’s neighbourhood street parking nearby and ample parking in downtown Peterborough.

A lot can go sideways when you’re organizing an outdoor live music event. From technical glitches to crowd control challenges to weather-related issues, potential headaches are a given. As such, there’s great comfort in hosting an act that is easy to work with, gives forth a stellar performance and assures a positive audience experience.

For Peterborough Musicfest, Dwayne Gretzky has proven to be that old pair of shoes that, while worn around the edges, still fit perfectly when pulled out of the closet.

On Wednesday (August 7), the Toronto-based pop-rock time machine headlines at Del Crary Park for the fifth time — its fourth festival appearance since 2018.

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Formed in 2011 and self-promoted as “the reigning champs of nostalgia,” the multi-member ensemble has certainly lived up to that billing. Playing anywhere and everywhere, and at all points in between, Dwayne Gretzky has garnered a huge following by breathing new life into classic hits, its repertoire comprised of 700-plus songs and counting.

Drawing upon a shared love of the music that has defined decades past, each member brings to the table not only extraordinary talent but also a selfless willingness to allow any one of their number to grab the spotlight.

Yes, cover bands are a dime a dozen, but to label Dwayne Gretzky as simply such does a grave injustice to the boundless energy and sheer fun that it brings to every performance, whether in an intimate club setting or before thousands chomping at the bit for an outdoor dance party.

VIDEO: Dwayne Gretzky Highlight Reel 2024

Remarkably, none of this was planned, as Lindsay-raised band co-founder Nick Rose related in a July 2018 interview with Bill Bodkin of The Pop Break.

“Tyler (Kyte) and I were playing in a band call Sweet Things that was kind of winding down,” he recalled. “We were living in the same apartment building along with a few other musician friends of ours. We befriended the superintendent who gave us access to his top-secret jam space in the basement.”

“Most evenings, we’d go down there and watch hockey and muck around playing Tom Petty songs and such. Once we had learned enough songs for a set, we booked a couple shows just for the fun of it.”

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A residency at Toronto’s famed Dakota Tavern really got the ball rolling. That was followed by a regular show at The Legendary Horseshoe Tavern, another of the big city’s live music landmarks. Word quickly spread and more gigs followed, both in and beyond the city.

Lindsay-raised Kyte, during a September 2019 chat with BeatRoute, said what became Dwayne Gretzky “grew naturally.”

“We didn’t plan to start a band with 10-plus band members, but one thing led to another and I think we’re stronger because of it,” he said.

Rose added “The whole point of the band is just celebrating the best songs, or at least our favourite songs. We started covering the songs we grew up listening to, sifting through albums that our parents had.”

VIDEO: “Listen To The Music” by The Doobie Brothers – Dwayne Gretzky

Just like no two snowflakes are alike, no two Dwayne Gretzky shows are the same, with the band drawing from a wealth of well-rehearsed material.

A review of the track list from the band’s 2019 self-titled album gives a pretty good indication of what to expect, from ABBA’s “S.O.S.” to The Cars’ “Just What I Needed” to ELO’s “Livin’ Thing” to The Beatles’ “Please Please Me.”

Rose said the band has faced some questions around their highlighting songs written and made famous by others, as opposed to performing original material.

“The archetypal cover band conjures up images of middle-aged men in fedoras and vests going through songs at a bar mitzvah, so it has an odour to it,” he noted.

Perhaps, but that doesn’t bother Dwayne Gretzky in the least — the audience joy they consistently see, hear, and experience providing full vindication that this group of friends hit on a very good thing.

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“This band is based on nostalgia,” said Kyte. “When we play a song that someone has forgotten about, it maybe brings them back to that place before they grew up. It’s a powerful thing when it works.”

For those who have never caught a Dwayne Gretzky performance, Rose promises “You’ll see a lot of people on stage having fun celebrating the greatest songs.”

“We’re very fortunate that we get to do this as a full-time gig — play our favourite songs with our best buds. We’ve got a really great group of people in this band and I’m very grateful for that. They’re all a bunch of sweethearts and there’s never a shortage of dumb jokes to go around.”

VIDEO: “You Can Call Me Al” by Paul Simon – Dwayne Gretzky

Of note, Dwayne Gretzky’s August 7th performance coincides with the festival’s annual “Invest in Musicfest” fundraising drive that supports the bringing of premier artists to Del Crary Park.

All donations will go the festival’s entertainment budget, helping ensure it remains what has been since day one back in 1987: free and, thusly, accessible to all.

Musicfest volunteers will be throughout the park on Wednesday night, accepting donations by cash, debit, or credit card.

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Peterborough Musicfest is presenting 16 free-admission concerts during its 37th season, each staged on Wednesday and Saturday nights until August 17th.

Overseen by executive director Tracey Randall and staff, a board of directors, and numerous volunteers, Peterborough Musicfest’s stated mission remains “to provide diverse, affordable live music to enrich cultural and economic prosperity in our community.”

For more information on this concert or the 2024 season, visit www.ptbomusicfest.ca or phone the Peterborough Musicfest office at 705-755-1111.

 

kawarthaNOW is proud to be a headline sponsor of Peterborough Musicfest’s 2024 season.

Four teens arrested and charged in July 25 assault in Peterborough’s East City

By kawarthaNOW -

Four teenagers are facing charges in connection with an assault in Peterborough’s East City on Thursday, July 25 that police had classified as a hate crime.

Shortly after midnight on July 25, a man was walking home in the Hunter Street East and Mark Street area just after midnight when he passed a group of four young men, one of whom spat at him.

Related story

Police investigating hate crime assault in Peterborough’s East City

According to the original media release about the incident issued by Peterborough police, when the man confronted the group, one of the young men man knocked his turban off his head and stomped on it. When a passer-by tried to intervene, both he and the initial victim were struck in the head with pop cans.

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According to a police media release issued on Tuesday (August 6), a scuffle resulted after the man confronted the group during which the victim was punched, kicked, and had items thrown at him, with the victim’s turban “dislodged” during the scuffle.

As a result of an investigation, police arrested four male teenagers — a 14 year old from Ennismore, a 15 year old from Omemee, and a 14 year old and 15 year old from Peterborough — and charged each with assault with a weapon and assault. All four accused teens were released on an undertaking and are scheduled to appear in court on September 9.

Although police originally classified the assault as a hate crime, after consulting with the local crown attorney’s office they only laid assault charges against the teens. There are several hate-motivated crimes under the criminal code that require the Attorney General’s consent before charges are laid: advocating genocide, public incitement of hatred, wilful promotion of hatred, and wilful promotion of antisemitism.

In the original release, police stated they also believed the group of young people was connected to the theft of soft drinks reported at a nearby convenience store, but no charges were laid against the four teens in connection to that incident.

Buckhorn Festival of the Arts returns for its 47th year on August 17 and 18

By kawarthaNOW -
"Perched Sentinel" (acrylic on canvas) by Diane Dowsett, one of more than 70 artists participating in the 47th annual Buckhorn Festival of the Arts on August 17 and 18, 2024 at the Buckhorn Community Centre. (Photo: Buckhorn Festival of the Arts / Facebook)

One of the most popular art festivals both in the Kawarthas and beyond, the Buckhorn Festival of the Arts is returning for its 47th year on the weekend of August 17 and 18.

Located at the Buckhorn Community Centre at 1782 Lakehurst Road, the festival runs from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday.

Named one of Ontario’s top 100 festivals and events by Festivals & Events Ontario, this year’s festival will include artwork from more than 70 artists spread across 10 acres both inside the Buckhorn Community Centre and outside in the Festival Park.

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The artwork on display and available for purchase represents a wide range of disciplines and mediums including oil and acrylic painting, photography, ink and graphite, wood turning, mixed media, fused glass, textiles, sculpture, and more.

Along with many returning artists, this year’s festival features new artists including paper mache sculpture artist Annette Vlieg, acrylic artist Robert Potvin, oil and pen and ink artist Saba Ambreen, acrylic artist Diane Dowsett, acrylic and oil artist Kim Ralston, abstract acrylic and mixed media artist Linda Hendren, textile artist Julie Wilkin, painter Allen Egan, and watercolour and ink artist Bill Stephens.

A list of participating artists and their disciplines is provided below. All the festival’s artists will be on-site throughout the entire weekend.

"My Princess" (pen and ink) by Saba Ambreen and "Mache" (paper mache) by Annette Vlieg, two of the new artists participating in the Buckhorn Festival of the Arts on August 17 and 18, 2024 at the Buckhorn Community Centre. (Photos: Buckhorn Festival of the Arts / Facebook)
“My Princess” (pen and ink) by Saba Ambreen and “Mache” (paper mache) by Annette Vlieg, two of the new artists participating in the Buckhorn Festival of the Arts on August 17 and 18, 2024 at the Buckhorn Community Centre. (Photos: Buckhorn Festival of the Arts / Facebook)
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This year’s festival will also include two special exhibits: “Home” celebrates regional art and includes works by Michael Dumas (the internationally recognized and award-winning Buckhorn-based wildlife artist who was one of the founders of the festival), David Foyn, Peter Rotter, George Raab, Daniel St-Amant, Wind Spirit, Anja Karisik, Tim Hough, John Maurer, Lynda Cunningham, Wayne Mondok, and W. David Ward, and “Art in the Park” involves several large metal sculptures by Renfrew County artist Jack Stekelenburg that will be installed throughout Festival Park.

Along with acres of artwork, the festival includes the “art-ivity” zone where children can express their own creativity, an amateur art competition, live music, and art demonstrations by not-for-profit art organizations, including Studio 201, Lakefield Creative Arts, Brushstrokes, and Kawartha Arts Network.

The festival also features the Buckhorn Fine Art Award. Sponsored by long-term festival volunteers the Wagstaffe family, the $500 award is given to an adult artist, pursuing an education in visual arts at a recognized Canadian art institution, who demonstrates community involvement and is in need of nurturing and support

Metal sculptures by Renfrew County artist Jack Stekelenburg will be on display in the "Art in the Park" special exhibit at the Buckhorn Festival of the Arts on August 17 and 18, 2024 at the Buckhorn Community Centre. (Photo: Buckhorn Festival of the Arts / Facebook)
Metal sculptures by Renfrew County artist Jack Stekelenburg will be on display in the “Art in the Park” special exhibit at the Buckhorn Festival of the Arts on August 17 and 18, 2024 at the Buckhorn Community Centre. (Photo: Buckhorn Festival of the Arts / Facebook)
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Food and beverages will be available for purchase. There is ample parking including special needs parking, with a free shuttle bus from the upper parking lot, and accessible washrooms with change tables. Note that no pets are allowed, except for service animals.

Admission is by donation. As well as being a major regional arts festival, the Buckhorn Festival of the Arts is a fundraiser for the Buckhorn Community Centre, a not-for-profit organization.

For more information about the Buckhorn Festival of the Arts, visit buckhorncommunitycentre.com. You can see some of the artwork that will be on display and for sale by following the festival on Instagram and Facebook.

"Intent" (acrylic on canvas) by Kim Ralston, one of the new artists participating in the Buckhorn Festival of the Arts on August 17 and 18, 2024 at the Buckhorn Community Centre. (Photo: Buckhorn Festival of the Arts / Facebook)
“Intent” (acrylic on canvas) by Kim Ralston, one of the new artists participating in the Buckhorn Festival of the Arts on August 17 and 18, 2024 at the Buckhorn Community Centre. (Photo: Buckhorn Festival of the Arts / Facebook)
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Artists at the 2024 Buckhorn Festival of the Arts

  • Saba Ambreen (oil paintings, pen and ink)
  • Judy Blue Anderson (acrylic paintings)
  • Linda Barber (paintings, prints, notecards)
  • Gary Barnett (acrylic paintings, postcards)
  • Amelie Bonin (oil pantings)
  • Laurie Cairns (paintings)
  • Peer Christensen (oil paintings)
  • Ian Collins (oil paintings)
  • Abigail Cook (acrylic paintings)
  • John Davidson (photography)
  • Paul Gray Diamond (wood turnings)
  • Frank Didomizio (wood turning art)
  • Tina Ding (oil paintings)
  • Robert A. Doherty (oil paintings)
  • Guo Yue Dou (oil paintings)
  • Heather Doughty (photographic prints in acrylic, metal, and cotton)
  • Diane Dowsett (acrylic paintings)
  • Allen Egan (paintings)
  • Michael Evans (sculptures)
  • Eugenie Fernandes (children’s paintings and books)
  • Henry Fernandes (acrylic paintings)
  • Corin Ford Forrester (fine art photography)
  • Stephanie Ford Forrester (fine art quilts, textiles, and mixed media)
  • Dave Froude (still-life oil paintings)
  • Mary Gair (acrylic and oil paintings)
  • Tracey Lee Green (nature-themed acrylic paintings)
  • Linda Hendren (abstract acrylic and mixed media)
  • Cheryl-Ann Hills (oil paintings)
  • Janet Horne Cozens (acrylic and mixed media paintings)
  • George w. (Bill) Keast (acrylic paintings)
  • Anja Kooistra (sculptures)
  • Anna Kutishcheva (acrylic paintings)
  • James Lasenby (acrylic paintings and graphite artwork)
  • Hilary Leopold (oil and acrylic paintings)
  • Eddie LePage (acrylic paintings)
  • Erin LePage (linoleum prints)
  • Brenda Little (acrylic paintings and limited-edition prints)
  • Steven Loney (stone sculptures)
  • Vladimir Lopatin (mixed media and abstract)
  • Olena Lopatina (landscape oil paintings)
  • Heather Lovat Fraser (acrylic abstract)
  • Bill Lunshof (oil paintings)
  • Patty Lynes (oil and acrylic paintings)
  • Vicki McCracken (wildlife oil paintings and cards)
  • Kelly McNeil (oil paintings)
  • Laurie O’Reilly (mixed media paintings and constructs)
  • Robert Potvin (acrylic paintings on board)
  • Jennifer Raby (batik fine art)
  • Kim Ralston (acrylic and oil paintings)
  • Paul Rankin (acrylic and watercolour paintings)
  • Lynne Ryall (oil and acrylic paintings)
  • Margaret Seaton (fused glass art)
  • Ann Shier (encaustic painting)
  • Nan Sidler (watercolour paintings and graphite drawings)
  • David Smith (paintings, etchings, block prints, and cards)
  • Jack Stekelenburg (metal sculptures)
  • Bill Stephens (watercolour and ink paintings, retail-ready cards)
  • Denis Turcott (photography and photo products)
  • David Vasquez (oil paintings)
  • Annette Vlieg (paper mache sculptures)
  • Kelly Whyte (oil paintings)
  • Julie Wilkin (textile art)
  • John Yates (photography on canvas, paper, and metal)
  • Jie (Jane) Zhou (oil paintings)

encoreNOW – August 5, 2024

By Paul Rellinger -
Left to right, top and bottom: the Kawartha Autumn Studio Tour, "The Ladies Foursome" at Bobcaygeon's Globus Theatre, the Peterbrough Folk Festival, "Christmastown" at Port Hope's Capitol Theatre, David Wilcox at Peterborough Musicfest, and the Buckhorn Festival of the Arts. (kawarthaNOW collage)

encoreNOW is a bi-weekly column by Paul Rellinger where he features upcoming music, theatre, film, and performing arts events and news from across the Kawarthas.

This week, Paul highlights a celebration heralding 40 years of the Kawartha Autumn Studio Tour, Globus Theatre’s staging of Norm Foster’s The Ladies Foursome, the 35th edition of the Peterborough Folk Festival, the August arrival of Christmas at Port Hope’s Capitol Theatre, the winding down of Peterborough Musicfest’s 37th season, and the return of the Buckhorn Festival of the Arts.

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Getting up close and personal with area artists worth celebrating

VIDEO: 2024 Kawartha Autumn Studio Tour

If you’re hosting a 40th anniversary bash to which all are invited, it’s a good idea that the reason behind such a celebration is well founded. Heralding four decades of one of the longest running studio tours in Canada is a very good reason to lift a glass to what has been as well as look ahead to what will still be.

On August 8th, the Art Gallery of Peterborough will do just that, marking the 40th anniversary of the Kawartha Autumn Studio Tour at the Crescent Street Gallery in advance of the main event in late September.

Since it was started by a group of area artists and subsequently programmed by the gallery, the free self-guided fall tour sees artists working in a variety of mediums open their studio doors wide to the public. This year’s studio tour, on September 28th and 29th, will see more that 40 artists do just that, 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days.

While most of us are exposed to art in its finished form, be that in a gallery setting or perhaps at a downtown coffee house, the studio tour presents the unique opportunity to watch on and ask questions of artists as their works of art take shape. In considerable numbers each year, people take full advantage. The fact that the tour coincides with the fall colour season is a bonus.

Artwork showcased ranges from classic landscape paintings and traditional woodworking to some of the more innovative and interdisciplinary styles, including some that incorporate taxidermy and augmented reality.

A brochure map of studio locations can be picked up at the Art Gallery of Peterborough as well as at businesses around the city. You can also download the free Toureka! app for your mobile device (available for both iOS and Android), which you can use not only to browse artists’ bios but also create a customized route for the studios you want to visit.

For more information about the 40th anniversary Kawartha Autumn Studio Tour, along with the August 8th celebration and a preview exhibition on now at the gallery, visit agp.on.ca/kast/.

 

Globus Theatre teeing up a lot of laughs via Norm Foster’s play

Canada's most-produced playwright and an Order of Canada recipient, Norm Foster has written 80 plays and his plays are produced an average of 150 times on average each year. Foster cut the ribbon when Globus Theatre moved into its theatrical home at the Lakeview Arts Barn in Bobcaygeon 19 years ago, and Globus has staged one of his plays almost every year since then. (Photo courtesy of Norm Foster)
Canada’s most-produced playwright and an Order of Canada recipient, Norm Foster has written 80 plays and his plays are produced an average of 150 times on average each year. Foster cut the ribbon when Globus Theatre moved into its theatrical home at the Lakeview Arts Barn in Bobcaygeon 19 years ago, and Globus has staged one of his plays almost every year since then. (Photo courtesy of Norm Foster)

In radio parlance, the hits just keep on coming at the Lakeview Arts Barn in Bobcaygeon.

Having just wrapped up 10 stagings of the murder mystery whodunit Who Killed The King, Globus Theatre is right back it, presenting The Ladies Foursome with 11 performances from August 14 to 24.

Written by revered Canadian playwright Norm Foster and billed as “a girl power comedy with balls,” the comedy takes us along as three female golfing pals join a new acquaintance for a round of golf and gossip, celebrating the life of a dear friend in the process. The between-strokes conversation gravitates around life, love, sex and family, all of which leads to surprises, secrets and confessions becoming par for the course.

Foster has gifted us yet another gem that is sure to entertain while reminding us that golf is much more than a long and often frustrating walk — it’s also a conduit for all sorts of enlightening no-holds-barred conversations.

Evening performances, at 8 p.m., are August 14 to 17 and August 20 to 24, with 2 p.m. matinees on August 17 and 22. Tickets, which are $50 for the show only or $100 for the show and a pre-show dinner, are available at globustheatre.com or by calling 705-738-2037.

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Year 35 of the Peterborough Folk Festival will be a beauty

“See You When The Weather Breaks” – The Spades (2018)

Nicholls Oval Park will be the place to be August 17th and 18th, and for very good reason as the 35th edition of the Peterborough Folk Festival is staged.

Festival chair Rob Davis et al have really outdone themselves this time around, bringing 29 acts to three stages over the two days of the free festival weekend.

Related story

Here’s the performance schedule for the Peterborough Folk Festival on August 17 and 18

The artist list is long and impressive, with July Talk, Bedouin Soundclash, Brooks and Bowskill, and Greg Keelor in the mix along with Peterborough’s own Irish Millie, Nicholas Campbell, Sarah Jayne Riley, and 2024 Emerging Artist of the year Award recipient Calvin Bakelaar (VanCamp).

What’s really cool is The Spades — James McKenty, Tommy Street, and Josh Robichaud — are coming out of a long hibernation for an 8 p.m. reunion performance on the Miskin Law Main Stage. I caught their surprise set at the recent benefit for Dan Fewings at The Pig’s Ear. The trio hasn’t missed a beat and left me panting to hear more.

Of note, the festival actually kicks off Thursday, August 15th at 7 p.m. when Juno Award-nominated Wild Rivers headline at Market Hall Performing Arts Centre, with VanCamp opening. Unlike the festival, which is free admission with donations welcomed, this is a ticketed event. Visit tickets.markethall.org/rivers24 to purchase tickets (seats are sold out, but standing room tickets are still available).

I tip my hat to festival artistic director Ryan Kemp. We agreed to disagree over a few matters when I was on the Peterborough Musicfest board but Ryan has done a terrific job putting this year’s lineup together. I know very well how challenging and time consuming that is. Well done.

For more information about the festival, including details on the wealth of special events and activities for families and kids, visit www.peterboroughfolkfest.com.

 

It’s Christmas in August as Kringle, Ontario comes to Port Hope

Christy Bruce, Darrel Gamotin, and Alison Deon in a promotional photo for the world premiere of "Christmastown" by Briana Brown at the Capitol Theatre in Port Hope for 19 performances from August 16 to September 1, 2024. Directed by Rob Kempson, the farcical comedy about a struggling small town that celebrates Christmas all year round in an effort to draw tourists also stars Deborah Drakeford, Mirabella Sundar Singh, and Adrian Shepherd-Gawinski. (Photo: Sam Moffatt)
Christy Bruce, Darrel Gamotin, and Alison Deon in a promotional photo for the world premiere of “Christmastown” by Briana Brown at the Capitol Theatre in Port Hope for 19 performances from August 16 to September 1, 2024. Directed by Rob Kempson, the farcical comedy about a struggling small town that celebrates Christmas all year round in an effort to draw tourists also stars Deborah Drakeford, Mirabella Sundar Singh, and Adrian Shepherd-Gawinski. (Photo: Sam Moffatt)

I’m fairly certain there’s a standing rule in theatrical circles that says you don’t stage a Christmas-themed play during the dog days of August.

Well, rules, be they of the written or unwritten variety, are always broken at some point. That’s exactly what Port Hope’s Capitol Theatre will do, staging Christmastown from August 16 to September 1 at the historic venue.

Written by celebrated Canadian playwright Briana Brown and directed by Capitol Theatre artistic director Rob Kempson, the farce takes us to down-on-its-luck Kringle, Ontario where the well-meaning town reeve has devised a plan to bring tourists back: celebrate Christmas all year round. Initially, the townsfolk are on onside but then a heat wave melts their Yule excitement and gives them second thoughts.

A convenience store/gas station is the town’s centre of cultural activity, and it’s there that we meet owner Nora along with an anxious restaurateur, a sassy teenager, and wide-eyed resident new to the town. What follows is a lot of laughs, promoted as “a veritable blizzard of hilarity.”

When I first heard about this staging, I too wondered who in their right mind would present a Christmas-themed play in the summer. But then it hit me: the play’s story takes place in the summer. Duh. Besides, Port Hope folks love the Christmas season, going all out to dress up the town for the season. Who am I, or anyone, to say they can’t enjoy that same spirit in August?

Performances are August 16 and 17, August 22 to 24, and August 29 to 31 at 7:30 p.m., with 2 p.m. matinees August 18, August 20 to 22, August 24 and 25, August 27 to 29, August 31 and September 1. Visit capitoltheatre.com for tickets.

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And then there were four: Peterborough Musicfest winds down

VIDEO: Behind The Vinyl: “Riverboat Fantasy” with David Wilcox

I have a problem with Peterborough Musicfest. It has nothing to do with the Del Crary Park set-up or the stage lineup. Rather, it has everything to do with it serving as an unrelenting ticking clock that reminds me that summer is closer to ending with each show that passes.

Beginning with the Wednesday, August 7th performance by Toronto-based festival favourite Dwayne Gretzky, there are just four concerts remaining this season. Back on June 29, which feels like yesterday, the festival’s 37th season began with Tenille Townes headlining. Including that show, there were 16 to go. Now we’re at just four. Crazy.

Following Dwayne Gretzky, the festival will welcome Lindsay Ell on Saturday, August 10th, Choir! Choir! Choir! on Wednesday, August 14th and, for the season finale on Saturday, August 17th, David Wilcox. You can read more about each act here at kawarthaNOW.com as those dates draw nearer.

All indications are that it’s been a stellar season for Musicfest. While there have been a few weather-related challenges, a festival record crowd took in Metric on July 17. But what has folks really happy is the return of the 50-50 draw held the night of each show. The draw didn’t come back post-pandemic, but the Musicfest crew has pulled it together this season.

 

Time to get your Buckhorn on as annual arts festival returns

The Buckhorn Festival of the Arts at the Buckhorn Community Centre on August 17 and 18, 2024 features more than 70 artists as well as two special exhibits, an "art-tivity zone where children can express their creativity, an amateur art competition, art demonstrations, live music, and more. (Photo: Buckhorn Festival of the Arts)
The Buckhorn Festival of the Arts at the Buckhorn Community Centre on August 17 and 18, 2024 features more than 70 artists as well as two special exhibits, an “art-tivity zone where children can express their creativity, an amateur art competition, art demonstrations, live music, and more. (Photo: Buckhorn Festival of the Arts)
The Rellingers don’t get up to Buckhorn nearly enough, but we have always enjoyed our rare visits. It’s a beautiful area and the locals are friendly enough.

Those reasons alone are enough to visit but if you need some extra prodding, the Buckhorn Festival of the Arts does the trick.

First held in 1978, the festival is marking its 47th year on the weekend of August 17 and 18 inside and outside the Buckhorn Community Centre at 1782 Lakehurst Road.

Recognized as one of the top 100 festivals in the province by Festivals and Events Ontario, this year’s edition will see more than 70 artists showcase their terrific talent and chat about their work. In addition, the schedule features live entertainment, an amateur art competition, art demonstrations, and an “art-ivity” zone for the kids.

Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Saturday and 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. on Sunday, with admission by donation.

Even if you have a mild interest in art, the festival once again provides a great excuse to revisit, or visit for the first time, a great part of our neck of the woods. Find out more at www.buckhorncommunitycentre.com/events/buckhorn-festival-of-the-arts/.

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Encore

  • Allow me to add my name to the long list of people congratulating Holy Cross grad Victoria Nunez on her being awarded the $1,000 Bierk Art Fund Bursary. Established in 2006 to honour the work of late Peterborough arts champions David and Liz Bierk, the bursary is awarded annually to a local graduating high school student whose work demonstrates artistic merit promise. Nunez, who will begin her Bachelor of Interior Design program at Humber College this fall, will be officially recognized during the Mayor’s Luncheon for the Arts on October 10 at The Canadian Canoe Museum.
  • It’s quiet right now at The Guild Hall on Rogers Street in East City, but it won’t stay that way for long. The Peterborough Theatre Guild has revealed details of its six-play 2024-25 season — an ambitious stage production schedule that will take it into early May of next year. The new season opens Friday, September 20th with two one-act plays, How To Survive A Zombie Apocalypse and Ghost Story. Stay tuned to kawarthaNOW.com for more details as things roll out.

This year’s Perseid meteor shower peaks on August 11 and 12

By Bruce Head -
A Perseid meteor streaking down the sky in 2010 in Springfield, Vermont. (Photo: Dennis di Cicco / Sky & Telescope)

Every August, stargazers look forward with excitement to the annual Perseid meteor shower. This year’s meteor shower will peak on Sunday and Monday (August 11 and 12), with 50 to 75 meteors visible per hour if you are in a dark location.

Every year from late July to early August, Earth plows through the interplanetary debris left behind by comet Swift-Tuttle when it passed close to Earth (the last time was in 1992). When the particles of debris — which can be as small as a grain of sand or as big as a pea — slam into the Earth’s atmosphere at around 210,000 kilometres per hour, they heat up to 1,650 degrees Celsius and are vaporized in a burst of heat and light, resulting in a “shooting star.”

The meteors are called the Perseids because they appear to originate from the northeast sky in the direction of the constellation of Perseus.

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While the Perseid meteor shower has been active since mid-July, the Earth goes through the densest area of the comet’s debris field between 9 a.m. and noon on Monday (August 12). Because meteors aren’t visible during the daylight hours, you’ll need to watch for them instead on Sunday night or Monday night, with the best times after midnight (when the first-quarter moon has set) until before dawn.

The Peterborough Astronomical Association will be hosting a Perseid meteor shower event from 9 to 11 p.m. on Monday (August 12) at Harold Town Conservation Area (2611 Old Norwood Road, Peterborough).

The family-friendly event is free and open to the public. Although optical aids are not needed to see meteors, association members will have telescopes and binoculars set up to view other wonders of the night sky. As with being able to see the meteor shower on your own, the event is weather dependent and will be cancelled if skies are cloudy.

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Tips for viewing the Perseid meteor shower

Find the darkest place you can, away from any light pollution, with as much open sky as possible. Rural areas away from city lights with few buildings or trees are the best. If you can’t get away from your city, find a park or golf course.

Lie on your back and take in as much of the night sky as possible. You don’t have to face Perseus (to the northeast) to see the meteor shower, but the more sky you can see, the better your chances.

Be prepared to stay outside for at least an hour. It takes 20 to 30 minutes for your eyes to fully adjust to the darkness, and the meteors come in spurts and lulls — so the longer you wait, the more you’ll see.

Stay awake. The Perseids are typically best between midnight and dawn, with the hours before dawn being the best time. During the peak night, the early morning of August 12th, wait until the moon sets at midnight.

Christmas in August? Port Hope’s Capitol Theatre staging the world premiere of ‘Christmastown’

By Paul Rellinger -
Christy Bruce, Darrel Gamotin, and Alison Deon in a promotional photo for the world premiere of "Christmastown" by Briana Brown at the Capitol Theatre in Port Hope for 19 performances from August 16 to September 1, 2024. Directed by Rob Kempson, the farcical comedy about a struggling small town that celebrates Christmas all year round in an effort to draw tourists also stars Deborah Drakeford, Mirabella Sundar Singh, and Adrian Shepherd-Gawinski. (Photo: Sam Moffatt)

Even with the unpredictable extreme weather events that climate change has wrought, it’s a pretty safe bet that snow won’t fall on Port Hope in August.

That picturesque lakeside community has that in common with the fictional community of Kringle, Ontario, where the town reeve has hatched a tourism development plan that has Christmas at its centre — not just in December, but all year round.

With the townspeople fully on side, all is good until a heat wave melts away early enthusiasm for the plan. That’s when things get really interesting and hilarious in Christmastown, the fourth and final main stage theatrical production of the Capitol Theatre’s summer season.

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Written by celebrated Canadian playwright Briana Brown, Christmastown is making its world premiere at the historic theatre in Port Hope, opening Friday, August 16th and continuing to Sunday, September 1st.

Directed by Capitol Theatre artistic director Rob Kempson, the farce — billed as being about “making magic all year long” — stars Christy Bruce, Alison Deon, Deborah Drakeford, Darrel Gamotin, Adrian Shepherd-Gawinski, and Mirabella Sundar Singh.

Brown, who holds a master’s degree in creative writing from the University of British Columbia, admits to being “a little fascinated by Christmas.”

“I never had the kind of Christmas you see in movies or on TV,” she recalls. “I’m an only child. My dad was an only child too. There were a couple of other family members early on, but they (family Christmas gatherings) were always quite small.”

"Christmastown" playwright Briana Brown with director Rob Kempson during a rehearsal for the farcical comedy about a struggling small town that celebrates Christmas all year round in an effort to draw tourists. The play runs at the the Capitol Theatre in Port Hope for 19 performances from August 16 to September 1, 2024. (Photo: Sam Moffatt)
“Christmastown” playwright Briana Brown with director Rob Kempson during a rehearsal for the farcical comedy about a struggling small town that celebrates Christmas all year round in an effort to draw tourists. The play runs at the the Capitol Theatre in Port Hope for 19 performances from August 16 to September 1, 2024. (Photo: Sam Moffatt)

Kringle, says Brown, is reflective of her upbringing in a small town outside of Bayfield on the eastern shore of Lake Huron in southwestern Ontario.

“Kringle is one those smaller towns that’s struggling,” she explains. “It used to get a lot of traffic with people on their way through to get to a beach area, but there’s a new highway and everybody avoids it now. So, they’re trying to use the town’s name and see if they can drum up some tourism or a reason for people to start coming back. They have decided that a 24/7 Christmas town is the way to go about it.”

The playwright used her own small-town experiences to lend authenticity to the fictional town.

“There are a lot of bits and pieces of real-life people,” Brown says. “You do collect experiences and characteristics. The location — a gas bar/convenience store/restaurant/dry cleaning service — existed when I was growing up; that sort of hub of activity with all the different things that could be happening at the same time. That multi-use space seems like a great setting for a comedy; a place where so many worlds collide and there’s a lot of action going on.”

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Brown has no fears that a Christmas-themed play will be a tough sell in August.

“Part of the reason it actually makes sense is because, in the script, it takes place in August,” she says. “They’ve embarked on this big idea when they’re two weeks into a heat wave. All of the people on stage have their Christmas costumes rolled up or half off because they’re exceptionally hot.”

“The time of year really works for it. It is this idea of how do you sustain Christmas magic at a time when it doesn’t at all feel Christmas-y?”

Mirabella Sundar Singh during a rehearsal for Briana Brown's "Christmastown". (Photo: Sam Moffatt)
Mirabella Sundar Singh during a rehearsal for Briana Brown’s “Christmastown”. (Photo: Sam Moffatt)

Brown adds the staging of a play set in a small town is right at home in Port Hope.

“One of the reasons he (Rob Kempson) programmed it is because Port Hope has a real affinity for Christmas,” she says, adding “They do a lot of things around that time of year and are really into it, so he thought it would be a good fit.”

“Rob and I have worked together a number of times. I actually directed a show that he wrote and performed in, and he has directed another of my plays. It’s wonderful to have that history and that kind of trust with a collaborator.”

“It is my first time working with the Capitol. Everyone has been so welcoming. Port Hope is so beautiful. I’m really excited to be able to spend a few weeks there. I feel very lucky.”

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Brown, whose playwriting credits include The Concessions (nominated for a Jessie Richardson Award for Outstanding Original Script), A Funeral Party (a finalist for the Safe Words National Play Award) and Cassandra, is thrilled that her play is making its world premiere, but notes that also means there is still work to be done during rehearsals.

“I’m going to be making slight changes here and there to the script,” she explains. “Theatre is meant to be performed. You do your best in the writing of it, but if there’s an actor that keeps getting a line stuck in their mouth in the same way five times, you’re like ‘That’s probably my fault. I’ll address that for you.'”

“It’s exciting but it’s also a little bit scary, but in the best way possible. I’m so excited about the cast. I’ve met five of the six of them who performed in workshops of the script. Everybody is amazing. But with comedy, there’s nothing better than sitting in an audience and hearing people laughing, and knowing that you are part of why that is.”

Brown says Christmastown may be the most personal of the plays she has penned, what with her growing up in a town not unlike Kringle and having moved back to a small town from Toronto a few years back.

“Every play you write has bits of you that you’re revealing to the world,” she assesses, adding “There are a couple of storylines in this one that are quite close to me, and to some recent experiences I’ve had.”

The cast of "Christmastown" during a rehearsal: Deborah Drakeford, Mirabella Sundar Singh, Adrian Shepherd-Gawinski, Christy Bruce, Alison Deon, and Darrel Gamotin. (Photo: Sam Moffatt)
The cast of “Christmastown” during a rehearsal: Deborah Drakeford, Mirabella Sundar Singh, Adrian Shepherd-Gawinski, Christy Bruce, Alison Deon, and Darrel Gamotin. (Photo: Sam Moffatt)

With rehearsals well underway, Brown says she’s open to suggestions from Kempson and the cast in terms of how her play is presented.

“I definitely think the people I’m working with are putting the story first in all of the choices that they make,” she says. “Having the history and respect that I have for Rob (Kempson) makes it a little easier to be open. You get a lot of feedback as a playwright, especially through the development process. “It’s really important to take a step back and ask ‘Does this serve the script?'”

Once the play opens, Brown says “If audiences have a great time and laugh a lot,” that will tell that her play, and how it was presented, was a success.

“But maybe also shed a tear or two, or felt touched. That they recognized themselves, or someone they know, in some small way. It’s both the comedy and the connection. Those are the big things I try to make sure an audience experiences.”

But, she notes, there’s another benchmark she’ll be looking for.

“I’m knocking on wood here, but it would be great if this play has a longer life after this production. I’ve had a few productions of each play I’ve written. Getting programmed in multiple communities would be really amazing.”

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Behind the scenes of Christmastown, Kat Chin is stage manager with Jeff Soucy assisting. Sound design is by Jeff Newberry, lighting design is by Jareth Li, and Anna Treusch is the set and costume designer.

Sponsored by Part Time CFO Services, Christmastown runs for 19 performances from August 16 to September 1, with shows at 7:30 p.m. on August 16 and 17, August 22 to 24, and August 29 to 31 and 2 p.m. matinees on August 18, August 20 to 22, August 24 and 25, August 27 to 29, and August 31 and September 1.

The opening performance on August 16th is pay what you can ($5 to $50), with tickets for subsequent performances costing $48 ($40 for those under 30). A “Shop, Dine & Show Package” package, which includes vouchers redeemable at participating downtown restaurants and retail shops, is also available for $70.

Alison Deon, Christy Bruce, and Darrel Gamotin in a promotional photo for the world premiere of "Christmastown" by Briana Brown at the Capitol Theatre in Port Hope for 19 performances from August 16 to September 1, 2024. (Photo: Sam Moffatt)
Alison Deon, Christy Bruce, and Darrel Gamotin in a promotional photo for the world premiere of “Christmastown” by Briana Brown at the Capitol Theatre in Port Hope for 19 performances from August 16 to September 1, 2024. (Photo: Sam Moffatt)

Brown will also be sitting down with Kempson for a special “playwright in person” conversation at 7 p.m. on Tuesday, August 27th, where she will discuss the inspiration behind Christmastown, her own appreciation for small-town living, and the process of going from page to stage as a playwright. The cost is free for subscribers or $5 general admission.

Tickets for Christmastown are available at the Capitol Theatre’s box office in person at 20 Queen Street (open 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. Tuesday through Saturday), by phone at 905-885-1071, or online at capitoltheatre.com, where you can also order tickets for the August 27th “playwright in person” event.

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