ECCO Art Gallery Studios to Showcase Work of Lakefield Artist David Goyette

ECCO Art Gallery Studios is showcasing the work of Lakefield-based artist David Goyette and his solo exhibition, ‘Force of Nature’ from July 9 to Aug. 9.

Photo courtesy of Gallery Goyette.

Last year, Goyette was named the Peterborough Examiner Readers’ Choice Gold Winner for Favourite Local Artist. He also has a spot at the Peterborough and District Pathway of Fame as one of the few artists to have received this distinction.

Goyette is the author of five published books, recognized by Canadian Scholars Press and a musician whose three original CDs that have been recognized by Sir George Martin, producer of The Beatles. A former Director of the Royal Conservatory of Music, he has also served as Chair of the Showplace Performance Centre, where both the David Goyette Green Room and the David Goyette Stage are named in his honour. He is a Paul Harris Fellow through Rotary International and a past recipient and finalist of the Peterborough Arts Award in the Arts Champion category.

Goyette’s visual art is rooted in the tradition of the New York School of abstract expressionism of the 1950s and '60s, as well as lyrical abstraction. His large-scale acrylic paintings draw inspiration from architecture and graphic design, celebrating the drama of colour and the expressive possibilities of the momentary and the imagined. With a keen focus on the tension between order and disorder, his work invites viewers to reflect on the contradictions of daily experience.

Opening reception on July 19, 1-4 pm.

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Healing Circles to Take Place In Response to Nogojiwanong Project Vandalism

In response to the vandalism of the Nogojiwanong Project Panels in Millennium Park, the City of Peterborough is holding a Healing Circle for those who may have been affected by the incident, announced on Wednesday.

Photo by David Tuan Bui.

The graffiti was reported on June 3.

The City is providing the following reference to available supports: 

• Talk 4 Healing, a culturally grounded, fully confidential help line for Indigenous women that is available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week, provided by Aboriginal Alert, Canada’s Indigenous Awareness, 1-855-554-4325, https://www.aboriginalalert.ca/service-providers/talk-4-healing 

• Provincial mental health supports directory provided by Canadian Mental Health Association, https://ontario.cmha.ca/provincial-mental-health-supports/ 

• Kids Help Phone, Call 1-800-668-6868 (toll-free) or text CONNECT to 686868. Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to Canadians aged 5 to 29 who want confidential and anonymous care from trained responders. Visit the Kids Help Phone website for online chat support or to access online resources for children and youth. 

• Hope for Wellness Help Line, Call 1-855-242-3310 (toll-free) or connect to the online Hope for Wellness chat. Available 24 hours a day, 7 days a week to First Nations, Inuit, and Métis Peoples seeking emotional support, crisis intervention, or referrals to community-based services. Support is available in English and French and, by request, in Cree, Ojibway, and Inuktitut. 

A virtual Healing Circle will be held from 10 a.m. to noon on Tuesday and an in-person Healing Circle will be held at the Nogojiwanong Project location in Millennium Park from 2 p.m. to 4 p.m. on June 17. Participants of the in-person Healing Circle are asked to bring their own lawn chair, if desired. 

The virtual Healing Circle is created as a safe and supportive space for community members to share and reflect on the impact of the recent defacing of the Nogojiwanong Project — a set of three interpretive panels commemorating the 200th anniversary of Rice Lake Treaty No. 20. This gathering is especially intended to support Indigenous community members and allies, offering an opportunity to come together, listen, and contribute to the healing process. 

Registration is required to attend the virtual Healing Circle. Registration closes at noon on June 16. Space is limited to ensure that all attendees have an opportunity to participate. Those who register will receive the link to attend the meeting. The registration form is available on the City’s website at https://form.peterborough.ca/Virtual-Healing-Circle-Registration.

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Millennium Park's Nogojiwanong Project Panels Vandalized

The Nogojiwanong Project Panels in Millennium Park have been vandalized with graffiti on two of its three panels reported on Wednesday morning.

Photo by David Tuan Bui.

The City of Peterborough discovered the vandalism when they visited the area, and community members had already cleaned up a portion of the vandalism prior to their arrival.

Mayor Jeff Leal calls this ‘an act of disrespect’ during National Indigenous History Month.

The project is called Gathering, a public artwork by Michael Belmore. It consists of a grouping of glacial erratic boulders, carved and fitted to sit slightly apart, giving the appearance of heat radiating. The stones are embellished with the Treaty 20 Clan Dodems. It was unveiled to the public on Nov. 10, 2022.

The Nogojiwanong Project is a collaboration undertaken in the spirit of kinship between local First Nations, Indigenous peoples and the City of Peterborough, in recognition of the 200th anniversary of Rice Lake Treaty No. 20. Through this collaboration, a gathering space was created in 2019. The space encourages learning and reflection through a series of interpretive panels highlighting the evolution of local treaties and the inherent rights of Indigenous peoples.

The display is located next to the Trans Canada Trail near the south end of Water Street in Millennium Park. The piece marks the completion of the Nogojiwanong Project.

Photo by David Tuan Bui.

Leal has issued the following statement:

“I am deeply saddened to learn of the recent vandalism of the Nogojiwanong Project panels at Millennium Park, interpretive signs that honour the 200th anniversary of the signing of Rice Lake Treaty No. 20 and the enduring presence of the Williams Treaties First Nations in this region.

This act of disrespect, particularly during National Indigenous History Month, is a painful reminder of the work still needed to advance truth, understanding, and reconciliation in our community. These panels are more than signs, they are a reflection of the stories, rights, and resilience of Indigenous Peoples, and a vital part of how we share and learn from the land we call Nogojiwanong.

While the act of vandalism is deeply disappointing, I am heartened by the swift response of community members. When City staff visited the site this morning, the panels had been restored. I want to sincerely thank those who stepped up and removed the graffiti with care and respect. Your actions speak volumes. You have demonstrated what it means to be true allies.

Millennium Park is also home to the public artwork titled The Gathering by Anishinaabe artist Michael Belmore. This artwork further invites reflection, dialogue, and connection, a space for all of us to come together in recognition of Indigenous history and futures.

Let us use this moment as a call to action, to learn more, to speak out against hate, and to stand in solidarity with Indigenous communities not only this month, but always.”

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Peterborough Theatre Guild Announces Six Theatrical Productions For 2025-26 Season

The Peterborough Theatre Guild has released its lineup for the upcoming 2025-26 season with six theatrical productions slated to run from late September to early May next year, announced on Monday.

Photo courtesy of the Peterborough Theatre Guild.

The following the shows and dates:

• Opening Night by Norm Foster

  • Directed by Margaret Monis

  • Sept. 19 – Oct. 4

• 291 by Jade O’Keeffe

  • Directed by Lisa Dixon

  • Nov. 1 – 15

• The Emperor’s New Clothes by Gerry McBride based on the story by Hans Christian Andersen

  • Directed by Gerry McBride

  • Dec. 5 - 14, 2025

• Where You Are by Kristen Da Silva

  • Directed by Jerry Allen

  • Jan. 16 - 31, 2026

• Midnight Madness by Dave Carley

  • Directed by Jane Werger

  • Feb. 27 – March 14, 2026

• The Mel Brooks Musical Young Frankenstein Book by Mel Brooks and Thomas Meehan, Music and Lyrics by Mel Brooks, Original Direction & Choreography by Susan Stroman

  • Directed by Nate Axcell

  • April 17 – May 3, 2026

The season starts with Opening Night by renowned Canadian playwright Norm Foster, directed by Margaret Monis. This hilarious play takes audiences on a journey behind the scenes of a chaotic theatre premiere. Get ready for twists and turns, sharp wit and great characters.

Adding a dramatic twist, 291, written by local playwright Jade O’Keeffe and directed by Lisa Dixon, brings a touch of historical intrigue with a locally written piece that delves into the letters between acclaimed artist Georgia O’Keeffe and her lover, photographer Alfred Stieglitz. This original work highlights the artistry and emotion behind one of history’s most famous creative couples.

As the holiday season approaches, families can enjoy the beloved children's production of The Emperor's New Clothes, written and directed by Gerry McBride. Based on Hans Christian Andersen's fairy tale, this adaptation promises to be full of humour and enchantment for audiences of all ages.

Where You Are by Kristen Da Silva, directed by Jerry Allen, is a comedy that features a heartwarming tale of love, family, and unexpected second chances in a charming, small-town setting.

Midnight Madness by Peterborough Native, Dave Carley, is a romantic comedy about two former classmates who unexpectedly reunite at a furniture store’s going-out-of-business sale.

For those who love a musical spectacle, the season rounds out with the electrifying production of Young Frankenstein by Mel Brooks and Thomas Meehan, directed by Nate Axcell. This hilarious parody of the horror genre promises electrifying choreography, clever wordplay and big belly laughs.

Season and individual show tickets will be available starting July 1 through the box office and online.

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Photos: Trent Valley Archives Brings Peter Robinson's Story On Bicentennial Anniversary to Princess Gardens

On the bicentennial anniversary of Peter Robinson's Settler Emigration Scheme, Trent Valley Archives Theatre brought the production of his story to Princess Gardens Retirement Residence on Wednesday night.

Eddy Sweeney (left), Abba Koshka (middle) and Kaza Hesselink (right) in their respective roles as David, Mary and Tim in the third act. All photos by David Tuan Bui.

Commemorating the bicentennial of the Peter Robinson immigration, the story takes place on one of the nine ships. It depicts the events at the end of a six-week voyage off the Quebec shore in the St. Lawrence River.

The production showed its third act for the seniors of the residence. Andrew Mills directs the play.

Roughly 2,024 Irish settlers were sent to Peterborough as part of the British government’s assisted emigration program for destitute Irish families.

Live productions are available to the public at the Market Hall Performing Arts Centre on May 29, 30 and 31 at 7:30 p.m. and a 2 p.m. matinee on the 31st.

Tickets can be found on Market Hall’s website.

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Art Gallery of Peterborough Temporarily Closed For Maintenance

The Art Gallery of Peterborough is closed to the public for unscheduled maintenance until Sunday.

File Photo.

It is expected to reopen to the public on Wednesday at its regular hours of 11 a.m. to 5 p.m., Wednesday through Sunday.  

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Art Gallery of Peterborough Seeking Board and Committee Members

The Art Gallery of Peterborough (AGP) is looking for art lovers and enthusiasts to support the gallery by joining the Board of Directors and/or the Fundraising and Development Committee.

File Photo.

These roles help ensure the Art Gallery of Peterborough offers programs that speak to the community and have an impact on the future of culture in the region.

Applications are due April 16.

Since 1974, the AGP has showcased extraordinary artwork produced by artists from within our community and beyond. The gallery offers enriching educational experiences for all ages and has built a strong permanent collection to reflect the vibrancy of our community, while keeping pace with emerging currents in the practice of contemporary art.

For more information and to apply, please visit the Art Gallery of Peterborough's website at agp.on.ca or call 705-743-9179.

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New Temporary Exhibit For Peterborough Museum and Archives

The Peterborough Museum & Archives is hosting a new temporary exhibit, curated by students from Fleming College’s Museum Management and Curatorship program, beginning on Saturday.

Photo courtesy of the City of Peterborough.

‘Collecting Memories: Objects that Define Us’ explores a fresh perspective on storytelling through objects. According to press release, the exhibit encourages visitors to think about why objects on exhibit at the Peterborough Museum & Archives (PMA) are part of the permanent collection, and why those objects were donated, accepted, treasured and preserved.  

“Every year Fleming College's Museum Management and Curatorship students work collaboratively as a team to research, write, plan and design a new exhibit for the Peterborough Museum & Archives,” said Dr. Amy Barron, Fleming College program coordinator of heritage programs. “This year's exhibit captures the very meaning of why these students are inspired to learn to work in museums, because it is in the objects that we all cherish and keep that a community's collective memories are told.”

The exhibit is on display in the Heideman Gallery until June 15. An official opening will take place on April 17, from 2 to 4 p.m., with speeches starting at 2:30 p.m.

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Showplace Showcases Results From $66,000 Grant By Ontario Government For Post-Pandemic Impact

Peterborough-Kawartha MPP Dave Smith saw the work of a $66,000 Ontario Trillium Foundation grant for the Showplace Performance Centre to develop a new strategic plan for moving forward past the impacts created by the pandemic, on Thursday.

The Ontario Trillium Foundation (OTF) is an agency of the Ontario government with a mission to build healthy and vibrant communities across the province. Photo by David Tuan Bui.

“This funding from the Provincial Government, through the Ontario Trillium Foundation, has played a crucial role in the strategic planning of Showplace Peterborough,” said Dave Smith, Peterborough-Kawartha MPP. “This Performance Centre is a cornerstone of our community, providing arts, culture, and live entertainment for individuals of all ages.”

The 18-month grant has allowed Showplace to bring in outside expertise to develop the plan and help with the costs of hosting focus meetings and helping with promotion and administrative costs.

Ken Doherty, past board chair, presented the plan to an audience, unveiling a new vision, mission and values to carry Showplace into its next era as Peterborough’s premier destination for arts, culture and live entertainment.

“The Ontario Trillium Foundation knows that Showplace helps local artists thrive. Our new strategic plan, with concrete actions and measurable results, will see Showplace grow to be an even more vibrant part of our community,” said Doherty. “As we look to the future, partners like Trillium will help us engage new audiences and hold our spot as Peterborough’s premier choice for live entertainment.”

The full plan can be viewed below:

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Peterborough Theatre Guild Announces New Year Production 'Outside Mullingar' For January/February

The Peterborough Theatre Guild’s first production of the new year, ‘Outside Mullingar’ has been announced with 10 shows scheduled spanning from late January to early February.

Photo courtesy of the Peterborough Theatre Guild.

Shows are occurring on Jan. 24, 25, 26, 30, 31 and Feb. 1, 2, 6, 7, and 8 at the Peterborough Theatre Guild. Shows begin at 7:30 p.m., while matinees (Jan. 26, Feb. 2) are at 2 p.m.

Anthony and Rosemary are two introverted misfits straddling 40. Anthony has spent his entire life on a cattle farm in rural Ireland, a state of affairs that—due to his painful shyness—suits him well. Rosemary lives right next door, determined to have him, watching the years slip away. With Anthony’s father threatening to disinherit him and a land feud simmering between their families, Rosemary has every reason to fear romantic catastrophe. In this very Irish story with a surprising depth of poetic passion, the journey of eccentric souls is heartbreaking, funny as hell, and ultimately deeply moving. Outside Mullingar is a compassionate, delightful work about how it’s never too late to take a chance on love.

Tickets range from $20 to $30 (including fees) and are available online or by phone at (705) 745-4211.

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