In case you missed it... the 2010 Canada Day Fireworks in the Patch
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Peterborough Blogs
Someone Told Us It's All Happening At The Zoo
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Our zoo is fantastic—and free. And this year it is celebrating its 75th anniversary, with special events including their first annual fundraising Gala in August to help raise funds for an animal care building to house animals in need of special attention.
Be a tourist in your own city, and go check out our wonderful zoo—or if you've already been, go again and again.
Here are some videos that people have shot there over the years:
And hey, why not... take a ride to the zoo.
[Related: Interactive Tour of Riverview Park and Zoo; Simon & Garfunkel: At The Zoo]
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Peterborough Activists Insist The Media is Missing the Message with the G8/G20 Protests
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The media are missing the messages that really matter about the G8/G20 protests in Toronto this weekend.
That's what organizers of a peaceful rally and discussion held at Peterborough's Confederation Park on Sunday afternoon wanted the crowd of roughly 100 people who turned out for an afternoon of information and entertainment to know.
The event included speeches from Peterborough-area activists who participated in rallies and other events in Toronto this week; political analysis from other area activists such as John Etches, Jo Hayward-Haines and Roy Brady; a political dance performance by local dancer Ryan Kerr; and a music performance by Dub Trinity.
Members of The Peterborough Community Mobilization Network organized the event to raise awareness about the issues surrounding the G8/G20 summits.
Barb Woolner and Leah Finity, two Ontario Public Interest Research Group (OPIRG) board members who attended the rally together, each expressed frustration about the media coverage the G20 protests in Toronto had received in the mainstream media—specifically the emphasis on the acts of violence at the expense of the important messages being carried by the protesters.
"I don't think that's what people are looking for from the media—not if they are critical observers. They are waiting, waiting, waiting for those other stories about why those peaceful demonstrators were out there," said Woolner. "The media has twisted what it means to be a demonstrator. They've lost sight of what makes the movement so rich. We're not all saying the same thing."
—video and text by Ann Douglas, PtboCanada contributor
[Don't Believe Everything You Read in the Mainstream Media About the G20 Protests]
[For all videos shot by Ann Douglas at the Peterborough rally, click here.]
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Moment in Twitter Time: The Day an Earthquake Hit Peterborough
/In the order they came in on our @Ptbo_Canada feed shortly after the Earthquake hit at 1:41 p.m., here were some of the initial tweets (and confusion) from Peterborough tweeps:
cherylayres
did you just feel that tremor!
jacksoncreek
earthquake
miskinlaw
I am in Whitby Ontario Canada. I think I just felt a serious earthquake. Wazzzzup?
TanyaFusco
Did anyone just feel that?
candaceshaw
Um, did anyone else in the Traill College area just feel the earth move? My house just shook in a way I've never felt before.
anndouglas
Our entire house is shaking and creaking. Construction crews digging nearby or earth tremor?
brucehead
Earthquake in Peterboorugh too!
cgooderham
Did anyone just feel an tremor? There were no trucks in my area and I just felt an earthquake... 1:43pm Eastern TIME #earthquake
jameshiggins
Ummm... eathquake, anyone?
ptbogreenup
Did we just experience an earthquake?
cherylayres
@miskinlaw I felt it here in west end Peterborough - felt like th house just slid sideways
Ricwi
Uh... Anyone else just feel the earth move?
subschema
Thought it was just me. So weird. RT @evmustang: Amazing. RT @cherylayres: did you just feel that tremor!
stevehancock
Did y'all just feel that?
StickShots
Did we just have earth tremors in peterborough? My apt was shaking
TanyaFusco
Earthquake?
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Stephen Fearing Admires Peterborough's Old Buildings
/In the first part of this interview with Canadian folk singer-songwriter Stephen Fearing (from Blackie & the Rodeo Kings) after a recent gig at PCVS, Fearing speaks fondly of all of the old buildings in Peterborough. He marvels at the old PCVS auditorium in particular, calling it "easily one of the best venues I've ever played."
And here's video from Fearing's performance at PCVS:
[Stephen Fearing; Fearing at first PCVS music series]
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Check out what these Two Peterborough teens created as part of a school physics project...in 2006
/As it says here in the December 28, 2006 posting of the video on YouTube, "This pure work of art was created by two genius students at TAS Secondary School in Peterborough, Ontario. This was a physics project in grade 11. The objective was to create a cardboard chair which would hold at least 350 lbs, and up to 1000 lbs. Needless to say these two students took it upon themselves to make a creation above all creations. Making the chair was one thing... the second part of the project was to ADVERTISE it! So here you go. The iPad ad. Enjoy."
And the update given on January 27 of this year: "Yeah, I know... we had the name first, haha."
[The iPad]
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Ode'min Giizis Festival (Strawberry Moon Festival) June 16 to 21 in Peterborough
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Public Energy and O'Kaadenigan Wiingashk bring the third annual Ode'min Giizis (The Strawberry Moon Festival)—see promo video above—to Peterborough's downtown and Del Crary Park from June 16 to 21, with more than 200 Indigenous artists participating.
The city of Peterborough lies on the traditionally lands of the Anishinaabe. These lands have been long known as a meeting place among the rapids where ideas and knowledge were exchanged. Hence, it’s the perfect home base for a cultural festival like Ode'min Giizis.
The festival takes its name from the sweet and generous strawberry, which is harvested at this time of year. It is said to also represent the human heart. As well, the festival falls on the longest day of the year: the summer solstice.
Ode'min Giizis is a diverse six-day festival of indigenous art which marks the beginning of summer. The festival takes its shape via a selection of multi-disciplinary arts spread out across multiple venues (Historic Red Dog, Artspace, The Art Gallery of Peterborough, Gordon Best Theatre, Kubo Lounge and Confederation Park, to name a few) in the downtown area. Featured is a cross section of disciplines, including visual art, dance, film, storytelling, music and theatre.
Opening ceremonies on Wednesday, June 16th, kick off with a traditional gathering and Powwow at Del Crary Park. One of the featured performers there will be Mihirangi, otherwise known as the “Queen of Loops”. Singing in both Maori and English, Mihirangi blends sultry jazz, ska and rap with her incredible vocal range. Mihirangi’s music has taken her around the world, and that experience, and energy, will be ours to witness during this festival.
Among the other artists taking part include the likes of musician Lester Alfonso, artist Jason Baerg, musician Samantha Crain and local musical personality Sean Conway.
On the Saturday night (June 19th), the stars come out to Del Crary for a night of music and dance. Featured performers include local musician Missy Knott and world renowned throat singer Tanya Tagaq.
The event comes to an end with a wonderful Powwow on June 21st at Del Crary Park. This gathering takes the form of a procession which makes its way from City Hall down George Street to Del Crary Park for more music and festivities. The parade will feature many dancers, large puppets and music.
—Jeffrey Macklin, PtboCanada contributor
[If you are interested in volunteering for the festival, call 705.740.9189 or email volunteer@okw-arts.ca. The festival headquarters are located at 400 Hunter St.]
[Ode'min Giizis 2010; Ode'min Giizis - Strawberry Moon Festival]
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