Here Are Headlines About Peterborough From The 1920s and 1930s

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Trent Valley Archives gave the Peterborough Chamber a really interesting gift recently—a Word document called the "Peterborough Chamber of Commerce Scrap Book". The scrapbook is a list of some of the events, speeches, elections and advocacy issues between the years 1928 and 1937 in Peterborough.

HIstorical photo of Peterborough (we do not know the year but it's cool)

HIstorical photo of Peterborough (we do not know the year but it's cool)

The community of the late '20s, early '30s was concerned with bringing people and business to the area, along with brainstorming ways to showcase Peterborough to the world—in other words, very similar to today.

Roy Studio photo from late '20s/early '30s

Roy Studio photo from late '20s/early '30s

Here are some of the fascinating headlines/issues of that time frame from the scrapbook...

"Central Ontario Communities encourage highway extension"

"Boat builders make protest against luxury tax"

"Give a man a job campaign"

"Canadian tourist trade worth promoting, and should punish hotels that hurt our image"

"CNR planning to close railway lines from Port Hope"

"Board of Trade not opposed to building of Severn Locks"

"Editorial: Complete the Canal"

"US Tourists spent $517,706 in District"

"Downtown shopping promotion being deferred; idea liked, but too short lead time for Christmas"

"Boatmakers complain the depth of the Trent Canal is sometimes less than six feet that is advertised"

"Business men think it a good idea to promote Kawartha’s through big US sports shows"

"Water supply on Trent holding strong; can operate large factories"

"Parking time on George Street to be limited to 20 minutes"

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—written by Sandra Dueck, Policy Analyst/Communications Specialist, Peterborough Chamber

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The Backstory On The Hilarious Citiots Improv Troupe

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The Citiots Improv have become a fixture in Peterborough, playing monthly sold-out shows at the Gordon Best Theatre on Hunter Street —and more and more private gigs around Ontario as they grow in popularity. They provide, as renowned Canadian improv comedian Adam Cawley describes, "hilarious, fast paced, unforgettable improv." (Cawley himself has performed with them on several occasions.)

How did this awesome, influential troupe come to be? One of its original founders, Ray Henderson, explains...

2009

"Ray! Can you get some of the gang together and do a show at the Bethany Hills Ski Resort this weekend? I’ve called you guys 'The Citiots’!'" That phone call from the legendary Paul O’Sullivan in February 2009 changed the lives of myself, Dan Smith, Luke Foster, and everyone who followed.

Up until that point, Paul and I had been the producers of the successful “Impros vs Joes” series at the Gordon Best, which began in 2008. "Improvs vs Joes" was an evening of improv that included some of Paul’s famous friends (Jack Mosshammer, Patrick McKenna, Lisa Merchant, Colin Mochrie, and, of course, his wife, Linda Kash, to a name a few) as well as local “Joes”, including students from his classes as well as Dan Smith and Luke Foster. The latter had already achieved some success with their former troupe, “The Shrimps”, years earlier.

ALWAYS PICK UP THE PHONE

Back to the phone call from Paul O'Sullivan…I immediately called Dan Smith and asked if he would do the show with me, and who else he thought we should ask. Fast forward to that night in February 2009 in Bethany Hills, as five very nervous improvisers sat around a dinner table at the resort, pouring over the games list, hoping we remembered how to play each game. Hoping our mouths wouldn’t fail us and allow for noise to exit in some cohesive and entertaining fashion.

That first ever Citiot crew consisted of myself, Dan and Luke, as well as Phil Oakley and Emily Doyle—a performer that had been a part of my shows with Arbor Theatre since she was 8 years old in 1999. The ski resort must have liked us, because “The Citiots” were hired for 2 more shows that spring (Megan Murphy made her debut at the second show).

Dan Smith with special guest Adam Cawley at a show

Dan Smith with special guest Adam Cawley at a show

We did well in Bethany, but Dan and I didn’t think that a Peterborough audience would be ready for a Citiots show. Afterall, they knew us. Why would they pay to see us? And Peterborough already had the Impros vs Joes Show.

Flash forward to November, 2010. The week of an Impros show, Paul called me to let me know that he and Linda were double booked and couldn’t make the Friday gig. I called Dan. We already had the sponsorship in place. The room was booked. Should we make it a Citiots show?

NERVES: THE FIRST SHOW AT GORDON BEST THEATRE

As people climbed the stairs of the Gordon Best that November 2010 night, they were greeted at the door by a familiar face, me, who explained to them that it was no longer an Impros show, but a “Citiots” show. Same people…ish would perform, I told them, minus the “celebrity” element, and that it was up to them if they wanted to stay. They did.

The night was a success, with Luke, Dan, Phil and now Paul Nabuurs and I, along with Danny Bronson on the keys.

THIS THING IS GETTING REAL

May 2011. The same situation arises with Impros. Cancellations. But we improvise again with the same plan. We make it a Citiots show. Ray, Luke, Dan, Paul, Danny and Megan—and now with 17-year-old Kate Ethier as a guest. Result: Same happy audience.

June 2011. Why not actually PROMOTE an actual Citiots Show? Why not see if people want to come and see us? Ray, Dan, Kate, Danny, and now Kenn Gibb and Pat Maitland joined the fray. And people came. And people laughed. It was beautiful.

MOMENTUM BUILDS

Over the years now, we have performed (almost) every month at our homebase, the Gordon Best, as well as many other venues, private parties, fundraisers and corporate events. We have secured sponsorships from industry juggernauts, Steam Whistle Brewery and PTBOCanada.com. We have an official photographer, Jess Latone of J.Lee Photography. We received the Wire Award for “Best Performance Artist”, as voted by fans.

We have shared the stage with some of the Improv industry’s best, including Patrick McKenna, Linda Kash, Peter Wildman, and Mantown Improv (Canadian Comedy Award Winners for best Improv Troupe). We have brought local icons up on stage with us, including Paul Rellinger, Catherine Hanrahan, Caley Bedore, The Jobless boys, and Mike Judson. 

Our current lineup of Ray, Dan, Luke, Kenn, Paul, Kate, Mike, Danny and Andrew Root have been a unit since January 2014. We know that we owe it all to this amazing and incredibly supportive community who continually come out and share laughter and love with them.

Oh, and Paul O'Sullivan, thanks for your phone call. You changed our lives forever.

—written by Ray Henderson

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The Citiots next show is Friday, April 21st at 8 pm at Gordon Best Theatre. Learn more about them on their website.

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Peterborough's Music Class Of 2015 Photo

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A Peteborough Class of 2015 Facebook page has been set up inviting anyone involved in the Peterborough music industry/community together for a group photo to celebrate this city's amazing music scene.

Other communities have done similar group photos to celebrate their success and showcase their talent to the world.

A date has not been set yet but organizers are looking at doing this possibly later this month, to get everyone in one spot at one time. The event is 100 percent inclusive and anyone who was worked in any capacity in the music community here from bands to sound engineers to graphic designers to PR folk are invited. 

Learn more on the Facebook page, and spread the word!

Great idea!!

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Look At These Perseid Meteor Shower Pictures Over The Otonabee River

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Niki Allday captured these stunning pics Sunday night (August 9th) of the Perseid Meteor Shower. They were taken in Lakefield with the Otonabee River as a perfect backdrop...

photo courtesy Niki Allday

photo courtesy Niki Allday

photo courtesy Niki Allday

photo courtesy Niki Allday

photo courtesy Niki Allday

photo courtesy Niki Allday

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Guinness World Record Attempt For Most Dogs Wearing Bandanas At Viamede Resort

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Guinness World Record Attempt For Most Dogs Wearing Bandanas At Viamede Resort

Doggone fun

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Lakefield Free Movies In The Park

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Thre are Free Movies in the Park for families taking place in Lakefield at The Cenotaph Park across from Canoe & Paddle and Foodland every Thursday night in August and September.

There will be plenty of vendors activities there for families and kids—including face painting—music entertainment (like the awesome Nathan Jackson), and much more. Movies playing include the likes of Nemo, Shrek, The Lion King, Peter Pan and more.

More deets in the poster below...

For more info on Free Movies in the Park nights, contact organizer Mary McGillis of Lakefield's Celtic Connection at 705.651.2012.

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Clothesline Is Opening a Retail Location In Peterborough

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The Canadian Diabetes Association operates the Clothesline campaign—which asks Canadians to consider donating gently used clothing, electronics and small household items to them that they're getting rid of.

"One hundred percent of net proceeds raised by Clothesline directly support the Canadian Diabetes Association and world-leading diabetes research, education and advocacy."
 

There are currently 13 red donation bins around the city to collect used clothing, but sometimes people use them as a dumping ground for everything they are trying to part with.

Instead of dropping large article items at the bins (which isn't their purpose), you will now be able to take them to the retail location at 638B The Kingsway (just West of the Parkway), where they will sell mostly large article items and other goods.

The Grand Opening will be at 10 a.m. on Friday, August 7th, and to kick off the retail location, they are having a themed sale "Christmas in August" where you can purchase an artificial Christmas tree for $5.

Clothesline will be open Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 5:30 pm. and Saturdays 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. It is cash-only during the initial opening until a debit machine is installed. Clothesline will hold items if prepaid, and will charge a $50 flat rate to deliver items within city limits. You can drop off items—which must be in good condition and sellable—or call Clothesline for pickup (see what Clothesline will pick up here). For futher info, call them at 705.741.2155.

You can follow Clothesline on Facebook and Twitter. Learn more about the program here.

[Contributed by PtboCanada's Evan Holt]

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It Was All Bull At City Hall Today

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photo via @kjpoling

photo via @kjpoling

The Peterborough Ex's 170th season runs this Thursday through Sunday, and a bull showed up at City Hall to mark the occasion on Tuesday (August 4th).

It definitely got attention...

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