Burnham Street In Lakefield Reopened; Kawartha Home Hardware Gets Temporary Location

The Township of Selwyn has reopened Burnham Street in Lakefield to traffic, following the community’s recovery from the Home Hardware fire.

pHOTO COURTESY OF kAWARTHA hOME hARDWARE.

This reopening, along with Queen Street and Burnham Street, grants full access through the Village’s downtown core. Pedestrian detours remain in place along the section of Queen and Burnham Streets immediately adjacent to the fire-affected site, where fencing will stay up until all site restoration activities are complete.

The Township is now working to reinstall two streetlight poles and fixtures that were removed for firefighter safety.

Home Hardware is opening a pop-up store downtown at 25 Queen St., according to a Facebook post on Tuesday. The store will have a paint department, their popular hardware essentials and seasonal merchandise. An opening date has not yet been announced.

“Lakefield’s heart is its people and its sense of community,” said Mayor Sherry Senis. “As we enter this special time of year, we hope everyone will come downtown, support local businesses, and take part in the many festive activities that showcase our Village’s spirit.”

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Lakefield's Queen Street to Reopen Friday Morning Following Structure Fire Damage

The Township of Selwyn expects to reopen Queen Street in Lakefield on Friday at 8 a.m., announced on Thursday evening.

Photo courtesy of Selwyn Township.

Following the progress in demolishing the fire-affected structures, the contractor has confirmed that work can safely continue without needing Queen Street to remain closed.

The demolition site remains fenced off while work is completed and the lots are backfilled to create a level, safe site. The sidewalk in front of the affected area will remain closed.

To facilitate safe pedestrian movement, the on-street parking spaces directly in front of the site will be converted into a temporary pedestrian walkway, providing a continuous route to the intersection and nearby businesses on this side of the street. 

Burnham Street, including the sidewalk, between Queen Street and Charlotte Street, will remain closed as demolition activities continue in the area. However, there will be access from the Charlotte/Burnham Street intersection to the parking area adjacent to Divine Craft.

Two streetlights on Queen Street immediately adjacent to the affected buildings were removed during firefighting operations to protect the lighting heads. These will be reinstalled once the demolition is complete.

“Reopening Queen Street represents a positive milestone for our community,” said Mayor Sherry Senis. “Although the streetscape will look very different for some time, we are encouraged by the resilience and spirit that Lakefield continues to demonstrate. We urge residents and visitors to support our local businesses and enjoy the warmth and hospitality that make Lakefield so special.”

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Demolition Continues Lakefield Home Hardware Fire Aftermath

Demolition work of the the recent structure fire at the Home Hardware building continues in the Village of Lakefield.

Photo courtesy of James Forrester.

According to the the Township of Selwyn, significant progress has been made on the demolition of the structures razed by the fire. For safety reasons, Queen Street will remain closed for approximately another week as demolition continues. During this time, Burnham Street between Queen Street and Charlotte Street will also remain closed.

“We know how eager everyone is to see Queen Street reopen,” said Mayor Sherry Senis. “The closure is required to ensure public safety and provide a safe workspace for the demolition crew. We are grateful to residents and business owners for their continued patience and support as this important work continues.”

Businesses in Downtown Lakefield remain open during demolition.

In an effort to support local businesses and encourage visitation, the Township is highlighting several initiatives underway or in development, including:

• The Lakefield Scavenger Hunt – to help drive local engagement (postponed due to the fire and rescheduled for a later date);

• Lakefield Ladies Night – a community-focused shopping event;

• Holiday Programming aimed at supporting ‘shop local’ efforts; and

• An upcoming media story highlighting Selwyn, including Lakefield.

In addition to these supports, Peterborough County and the Township of Selwyn will be working together on an upcoming Social Media Campaign for Lakefield to Shop Local, Support Local, and Visit Local. This series will highlight local stores, community groups, and ongoing efforts while encouraging visitors to return and experience all that Lakefield has to offer.

To ensure continued collection services for businesses and tenants affected by the road closures, the following arrangements are in place:

• Business owners that back onto Charlotte Street must place their garbage and recycling on Charlotte Street.

• Businesses located on the corners of Queen Street can use the appropriate side street (Albert Street or Reid Street).

• All other businesses must take their garbage and recycling to the Reid Street end of Queen Street and place items on the inside of the road barricade (not on Reid Street itself).

The Townships asks to ensure containers are clearly marked with your address so they can be easily identified and returned after collection.

Two streetlights on Queen Street, immediately adjacent to the affected buildings, were removed during firefighting operations. These will be reinstalled once the demolition is complete. 

The Township extends sincere thanks to the demolition crews, emergency responders, Township staff, and community partners who continue to support Lakefield’s recovery efforts.

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Demolition Underway From Lakefield Home Hardware Fire Aftermath

Due to the extensive structural damage and urgent safety concerns, the Township of Selwyn has begun the demolition of the remaining Home Hardware structure from Thursday’s fire.

Photo courtesy of Selwyn Township.

The cause of the fire remains unknown; however, the fire is believed to have originated in an upper-floor apartment unit. No injuries were reported form the incident.

The Township made applications for demolition permits on Saturday, the Selwyn Building Department issued the permits the same day.

Material is being handled with a grappler and vibration impacts are not expected from the work. Dust will be minimal as the material remains saturated with water from firefighting activities according to the Township. The demolition is being directed by engineering professionals and supervised by Priestly staff from a boom truck stationed above the work site. The area is fenced off to ensure public safety. Queen Street from Albert Street to Reid Street and Burnham Street from Queen Street to Charlotte Street remain closed.

Businesses in Lakefield remain open, except for Lakefield IDA which has experienced significant water and smoke damage. The only parking available in downtown Lakefield is in the Municipal Parking Lot located beside The Village Inn. Customers will need to walk to access open businesses.

“This has been an incredibly difficult few days for the community of Lakefield,” said Mayor Sherry Senis. “Our hearts go out to everyone affected by these tragic events. We extend our deepest gratitude to the first responders, Township staff and community members who have shown such compassion and resilience during this challenging time.”

Community-based support initiatives are being organized by Century 21 United Realty, Canoe & Paddle, The Nutty Bean Café, Village Pet Food Supply, The Loon Restaurant and many others working directly with displaced residents and business owners.

Residents wishing to assist are encouraged to contact these local businesses directly for information on how they can contribute to ongoing support efforts.

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Fire Contained From Downtown Lakefield's Home Hardware; Several Streets Remain Closed

The structure fire at Downtown Lakefield’s Home Hardware has now been contained, announced by Selwyn Fire Services on Friday afternoon.

Photo courtesy of Selwyn Fire Department.

The fire occurred on Thursday as first responders battled the blaze for hours.

Several road closures remain in effect, including:

• Queen Street from Albert Street to Reid Street (fully closed)

• Burnham Street from Queen Street to Charlotte Street (fully closed)

• Queen from Regent Street to Reid Street (local traffic only)

• Charlotte Street from Reid Street to Burnham Street (local traffic only)

Water Street from Bridge Street to Concession Street has reopened to traffic.

Selwyn Township asks residents and visitors to remain cautious when in this area, as crews are still on scene.

Businesses in Lakefield can reopen (except for Lakefield IDA which has experienced significant water and smoke damage).

The Municipal Parking Lot located beside The Village Inn is the only open downtown parking lot at this time. Customers will need to walk to access open businesses.

The Township of Selwyn released the following statement after the fire’s containment:

”The Township of Selwyn extends sincere thanks to the first responders who have worked tirelessly to contain this fire, including neighbouring municipal fire departments from the Townships of Douro-Dummer, Cavan-Monaghan, Otonabee-South Monaghan, the Municipality of Trent Lakes, and Peterborough Fire Services. The Township also thanks the Peterborough Police Service, Peterborough County-City Paramedics, Enbridge and Hydro One for their support on scene.

The Township would also like to extend heartfelt appreciation to the many Township staff across departments who supported first responders on scene, as well as to members of the Salvation Army, County City Peterborough Disaster Supports, local businesses, and residents who came together to provide food, refreshments, and encouragement to those working to contain the fire and those affected by the fire. Their generosity and community spirit are deeply valued.

Our thoughts are with the residents, business owners, and first responders affected by this devastating event.”

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Fire Breaks Out From Downtown Lakefield's Home Hardware

A significant structural fire broke out at the Home Hardware in downtown Lakefield from Thursday.

Photo courtesy of Selwyn Fire Department.

During that time, Queen Street from Albert Street to Reid Street is closed to all traffic. Other street closures include Water Street from Bridge Street to Concession Street, allowing fire crews to draw water from the Otonabee River. The selwyn Fire Department asked the public to avoid the area.

The Office of the Fire Marshall has been called and the fire department expects Queen Street may remain closed for several days. Until further information is available about the building's structural integrity, local businesses may be impacted according to the Selwyn Fire Department.

Due to the excessive amount of water being used to fight the fire, Lakefield water customers may notice water discolouration. Run cold water for 15 to 20 minutes until it runs clear.

The Selwyn Fire Department is being assisted by fire crews from the Townships of Douro-Dummer, Cavan-Monaghan, Otonabee-South Monaghan, the Municipality of Trent Lakes and Peterborough Fire Services. The Peterborough Police Service and the Peterborough County-City Paramedics were also on scene.

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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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Senior Skating Returns to Selwyn Township

Senior skating will take place in Lakefield and Ennismore starting next week.

File photo

Selwyn Township has announced the return of senior skating every Monday from 1 p.m. - 3 p.m. at the Ennismore Community Centre and every Tuesday and Friday from 9 a.m. - 11 a.m. at the Lakefield-Smith Community Centre.

The skate is open to anyone aged 55+.

Selwyn Township also announced this year’s sponsors for the events.

The Regency of Lakefield will sponsor the Lakefield skates, covering the admission fees for the season, while Swish Maintenance and Blue Diamond Window Cleaning are teaming up to sponsor skating at the Ennismore rink, which is also free.

Senior skating starts next week and runs until the end of March 2025.

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Selwyn Township to Unveil Plaque to Honour Family's Dedication to Youth Sports Next Thursday

To honour the Wilford family for their contributions to youth sports, Selwyn Township is unveiling a plaque at Douglas Sports Centre Ball Diamond in Lakefield next Thursday at 6:30 p.m.

Google Maps Screenshot

Selwyn Township Mayor Sherry Senis, local dignitaries, and Township representatives will attend to speak about the plaque.

Jim and Yvonne along with their children Jessica and Jimmy, have contributed to local sports programs such as Lakefield and District Minor Hockey, the Lakefield Jr. C Chiefs and Lakefield Minor Ball according to a press release.

The family has also volunteered their time to contribute to the construction and maintenance of local ball diamonds.

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Lakefield Trent Canal Bridge Reduced to One Lane For Repairs This Tuesday

The Trent Canal Bridge in Lakefield will be closed to one lane from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. on Tuesday for repairs.

Photo courtesy of Peterborough County.

The repairs are for welding to the expansion joint located on the west side of the Trent Canal Bridge in preparation for upcoming surface asphalt repairs to be completed prior to the end of August.

Traffic flagging operations will be in effect during the repairs.

Peterborough County apologizes for any inconvenience and thank you the public for their patience.

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