Hometown PTBO: Linda Kash with Klusterfork Entertainment Performing at Market Hall and Her Various Roles Throughout Her Career

This week on Hometown PTBO, Pete Dalliday talks with actress Linda Kash about her upcoming show "April Fools’ Gold – The Joke’s On Us" at Market Hall Performing Arts Centre and her many roles during her career.

Engage with us on social media on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and Tiktok. Write to us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Sign up for PTBOBuzz newsletter here.

Kawartha Food Share Receives 5,000 Pounds of Potatoes From Local Organizations

Roughly 5,000 pounds of P.E.I. potatoes travelled across the country to Kawartha Food Share from the Rotary Club of Peterborough and McWilliams Moving & Storage to help feed the community facing food insecurities.

Ashlee Aitken, Kawartha Food Share general manager in front of roughly 50 bags of donated potatoes totalling 5,000 pounds. The P.E.I. potatoes had been an export ban on fresh produce since the end of November. Farmers there have been forced to discard millions of pounds of potatoes. Photo courtesy of Kawartha Food Share.

The new joint effort Peterborough Kawartha, Second Harvest Canada and with support from the Government of Canada got the 500 10-pound bags of potatoes to Kawartha Food share.

Second Harvest arranged for a trailer full of potatoes to be delivered to Barrie. Dan McWilliams of McWilliams Moving & Storage picked up the potatoes and brought them to back Peterborough.

It’s estimated that the potatoes purchased by the Canadian Government will help 9,000 individuals using the food banks within the community.

Engage with us on social media on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and Tiktok. Write to us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Sign up for PTBOBuzz newsletter here.

Children's Water Festival Will Be Held Virtually This May

The Peterborough Children’s Water Festival (PCWF) returns in 2022 for its 2nd virtual festival, adapting delivery to be completely online, once again this May

Photo courtesy of Peterborough Childrens Water Festival.

In its face-to-face format, the PCWF usually attracts between 650 and 800 students per day in grades 2-5 from schools across Peterborough City and County, and beyond. The 2-day festival, usually held at the Riverview Park and Zoo each spring, features over 30 interactive learning centres that provide children with exciting and fun opportunities to explore the concepts of water conservation, water attitudes, technology, protection, and science.

“Again this year, we are excited to host a virtual Peterborough Children’s Water Festival,” shares Patricia Skopelianos, Chair of the PCWF Organizing Committee, “Last year we had overwhelmingly positive feedback from teachers with our virtual platform; we have decided to once again bring the festival to classrooms in a virtual web series over the course of four ‘#WaterWednesdays’ in May.”

Delivery includes four 45-minute, live, weekly sessions of water education featuring local water knowledge keepers and water educators that will bring the magic of the PCWF to classes over the month of May. The online workshop themes are the pillars of the PCWF: Cultural Perspectives, Conservation, Protection, and Science & Technology. By registering, classes can attend all four workshops, and new this year, will receive a classroom kit with resources to support student learning.

This year’s festival is available to 100 classes of grade 2-5 online and in-person classes across Peterborough city and county, with virtual protocols approved by the Peterborough Victoria Northumberland and Clarington Catholic School Board and the Kawartha Pine Ridge District School Board.

Registration is now open. Teachers can register their classes at PCWF.net. Teachers are also encouraged to connect with the PCWF’s array of great online resources, with more being added in May, even if their class is unable to attend the live-streamed festival.

Engage with us on social media on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and Tiktok. Write to us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Sign up for PTBOBuzz newsletter here.

40th Annual Buckhorn Spring Craft Show Back In Person After COVID Hiatus

The 40th Annual Buckhorn Spring Craft Show will take place May 21 - 22 at the Buckhorn Community Centre (BCC), after being held online throughout the COVID pandemic.

File Photo.

The show will showcase a line-up of more than 60 selected, local makers that create works ranging from artisanal soaps and body care, to pottery, stained glass art, home decor, handmade furniture, jewelry and more.

“We are very excited to welcome the community back to the Buckhorn Spring Craft Show. Our artisans have been working diligently to bring you some gorgeous handmade, one-of-a-kind items and they are thrilled to be able to share their work,” said Jocelynn Vieira, craft show director at the BCC.

In addition to craft vendors, the show will feature a variety of food vendors offering everything from strudels, to gourmet hot sauce, to handcrafted popcorn and more. Visitors will also be able to enjoy BBQ foods, soups and desserts prepared by BCC kitchen volunteers.

“It takes a village to bring this show to our community, we are very fortunate to have a passionate community that embraces our artisans and works to make all of our events so successful,” said Viera.

Admission is $5 per person at the door. Children 12 and under are free. There is also free parking and free shuttle service for guests.

Visit www.buckhorncommunitycentre.com for more information.

Engage with us on social media on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and Tiktok. Write to us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Sign up for PTBOBuzz newsletter here.

City of Peterborough Declares "Kevin the Water Bacon" First-Ever Official Town Mascot

UPDATE: APRIL FOOLS!!!

The City of Peterborough is riding the waves of their logo as they declared “Kevin the Water Bacon” the first-ever official town mascot announced on Friday.

“Water bacon” is a tongue-in-cheek reference to the City’s logo of blue and white horizontal wavy stripes that launched in the spring of 2018. The logo was commissioned by naturalist Dylan Radcliffe who created Water Bacon keychains and bookmarks in the same year.

“I’m totally overwhelmed. I don’t even think it’s sunk in but wow, so excited,” exclaimed Kevin. “When they changed the logo with ‘The Water Bacon,’ I thought, ‘Huh, you know? We need a character!’ so here I am.”

@kevinthewaterbacon What's a Water Bacon you ask? #waterbacon #kevinthewaterbacon #unofficialmascot #lovelocal #lovelocalptbo #peterborough #ptboontario #ptbocanada #kawarthas #yarnies ##yarnielove #bacon #explained #nowyouknow ♬ I Can't Believe My Luck-MG-JP - Tiaradactyl

Kevin is an advocate for supporting Peterborough businesses and has posted his appearances on his social media. Places include Emily Mae's Cookies & Sweets, Souvlaki Pit (Ace Submarine) and East City Coffee Shop.

The Water Bacon says he will continue to make appearances and promote local businesses. The visits promote local tourism and town spirit as pandemic restrictions have been loosened as part of his mandate.

The decision came after a behind-closed-doors council meeting Monday night at City Hall. Councillors unanimously voted for Kevin as the new mascot but did not disclose other potential candidates.

Mayor Diane Therrien endorsed the logo’s nickname during her mayoral campaign in 2018. She was adamant about continuing the inside joke that began trending on Twitter with the hashtag #waterbacon.

“Making light of ‘water bacon’ is a fun and whimsical way of promoting and representing the City’s brand and community,” she said. “With Kevin being our new mascot, it reflects on how positive and joyful Peterborough really is.”

Mayor Diane Therrien adopted the tongue-in-cheek name of “Water Bacon” during her mayoral campaign since the City of Peterborough branded the logo in the spring of 2018. She wears the Water Bacon earrings made by Dylan Radcliffe via a 3D printer. Photo courtesy of Julie Morris.

You can find Kevin the Water Bacon on their official social media accounts on Instagram, Twitter and Tiktok.

Engage with us on social media on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and Tiktok. Write to us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Sign up for PTBOBuzz newsletter here.

Two Ukrainian Trent Students Are Rallying The Community To Support Their Home Country

Uliana Karpukhina and Mykhailo Rangiev, Ukrainian students studying at Trent University and members of Trent’s Russian Speaking Association (TURSA) are asking the community to contribute to two fundraisers; one to supply medical supplies to Ukraine, and one to help get children out of the war torn country.

Mykhailo Rangiev. Photo courtesy of Uliana Karpukhina.

Karpukhina’s mother and younger brother were able to get out of Ukraine and are currently in Spain, though her father had to stay behind.

Together with her mother, they are working to help children who have lost their parents evacuate Ukraine and find safety in Spain. Money contributed to their GoFundMe will help to pay the rent of the house they are staying in, groceries, diapers and clothes.

Rangiev has been in Canada for about five years now. His family remains in Ukraine volunteering.

He, along with the TURSA are asking to community for donations of medical supplies to send to the front lines of Ukraine.

“It would be nice to be able to accept physical donations,” he said. “But there are very specific things there that are needed - not just aspirin and bandages.”

With donations Rangiev will purchase supplies suggested by his family members directly in Ukraine. He will deliver the supplies to a shipping company in the GTA, that is flying supplies to Ukraine for free.

Donations can be sent to tursa22@gmail.com.

In addition to these two fundraisers, Rangiev is also raising money for Ukrainian students in Peterborough that may not have access to funds now, though he says the community exceeded his expectations with that fundraiser and he would like to focus on supplies now.

Both Rangiev and Karpukhina agree that Peterborough has been so supportive of the Ukrainian community as news comes out of the horrors in Ukraine.

“It was terrifying at first, seeing the news and not knowing if your family is ok,” said Karpukhina. “It’s easier now, but it’s still going on there, it’s still our country and our heritage - it’s part of our identity.”

“I wanted to do everything I could to help,” said Rangiev.

He says for the first few days of the Russian invasion he was in Etobicoke every day packing humanitarian supplies to be shipped to Ukraine.

“I initially thought to go back to Ukraine because the whole thing is so outrageous, but my Dad convinced me that at least for now I will be more helpful here and can help refugees that will come,” he said.

Karpukhina says seeing Ukrainian flags, ribbons and sunflowers around Peterborough has been amazing.

“In my neighborhood there’s a little kid who is about eight year old,” said Karpukhina. “He has ribbons and he’s been putting them up everywhere on trees and posts - I really notice them. It’s so cute and nice to see kids showing initiative.”

“It’s amazing to see such great support,” said Rangiev.

Engage with us on social media on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and Tiktok. Write to us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Sign up for PTBOBuzz newsletter here.

Trent University Collaborates With Brewery For Carbon-Zero Innovations

Trent University has signed a memorandum of understanding with Karbon Brewing Co. to create greener brewing technologies for a carbon-negative future on Thursday.

Karbon Brewing Company showcased three beers at the signing: One World (wheat beer), J. E. D. I —Justice. Equity. Diversity. Inclusion — (Hazy India Pale Ale) and Helios (lager). Photo by Luke Best.

The goal is to create a carbon-negative brewing style to reduce its impact on the environment while also giving students experiential learning opportunities.

“This unique research collaboration between a university and a brewery will see Trent and Karbon Brewing Co. driving discovery and innovation for brewing sciences,” said Dr. Cathy Bruce, Trent vice president of research and innovation. “Brewing chemistry, water conservation, experiential learning and curriculum development are all on the Trent-Karbon horizon. Their approach to green and clean research and development is an excellent match with the expertise and spirit of Trent University.”

Karbon Brewing Co. launched in 2020 and operates out of Junction Brewing in Toronto. They plan to build a 30,000 square-foot research facility and brewpub in Trent’s Cleantech Commons.

Karbon’s mission to ‘create a beer that not only tastes great but helps the planet’ includes reducing its carbon footprint to zero as well as removing additional CO2 from the atmosphere according to Stephen Tyson, Karbon Brewing co-founder. Karbon wants to be the first carbon-negative brewery by 2024.

“By collaborating with Trent University, we plan to lead the green revolution in brewing and we want to spur conversations around climate change,” said Tyson. “In Trent, we have found a like-minded partner that is passionate about developing innovative solutions to climate change.”

Trent’s Cleantech Commons pairs world-class researchers and laboratory facilities with entrepreneurs, business and government partners to accelerate clean, green, low carbon and sustainable technology solutions to address global energy, environmental and climate challenges as stated by the University.

“There's a wonderful fit between Karbon’s perspective on their future and our perspective on our future,” said Dr. Leo Groarke, Trent President. “Trent as a university is very committed to environmental sustainability so there is a real alignment between what we're trying to do more broadly and what they're trying to do as well.”

Engage with us on social media on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and Tiktok. Write to us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Sign up for PTBOBuzz newsletter here.

Peterborough Symphony Orchestra Awarded Vida Peene Orchestra Award

The Peterborough Symphony Orchestra will be awarded the Vida Peene Orchestra Award by The Ontario Arts Council at their concert on Saturday.

Photo courtesy of Peterborough Symphony Orchestra.

The juried award is named after Vida Peene, a Hamilton-based arts patron and is given out every two years.

This year the PSO was selected, and will receive $5,000.

The Vida Peene Orchestra Award will be presented to The Peterborough Symphony Orchestra during their “As the Sun Rises” concert on Saturday.

The concert takes place at Showplace Performance Centre at 2:30 p.m. There will be a second performance of “As the Sun Rises” at 7:30 p.m.

Tickets are available online at tickets.showplace.org or at The Showplace Box Office.

Engage with us on social media on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and Tiktok. Write to us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Sign up for PTBOBuzz newsletter here.

Local Artists And Peterborough Community Rally In Support Of The Painted Paddle Project

A final farewell exhibit of The Painted Paddle will be on display at this month’s First Friday event on April 1 from 6 - 10 p.m. inside the Jason Wilkins Factory to commemorate the ending of a month-long public art initiative and online auction.

Photo courtesy of Peterborough DBIA.

During the month of March, a series of 34 hand-painted paddles were displayed in store windows throughout the downtown as part of an interactive self-guided art tour and online auction.

The public art initiative created opportunity for Peterborough residents to celebrate the connection to the waterways in the Nogojiwanong/Peterborough while mobilizing local artists to create wonderful works of art for a very good cause.

With so many local artists attributed to the project the Painted Paddle was a true showcase of our visual art scene. Residents embraced the self-guided art installation- which garnering over 7,000 views online through the exhibit’s interactive paddle map.

34 local artists donated their time to the project.

"What I have come to understand, is that I truly come to life when I am creating, and I am an artist at the core of my being, striving to creatively maneuver this life,” said Kelly Albin of Blue Frog Legs Studio. “I believe art has the ability to bring people together and is an integral part of our community as it provides us with a means of authentic connection regardless of educational, socioeconomic, language or cultural barriers."

Community members raised over $6,000 while bidding on paddles.

All proceeds raised through the online Painted Paddle auction will support the Downtown Green Team, a DBIA partnership with the One City Employment Program. Proceeds will fund a downtown horticultural maintenance crew for people who are experiencing barriers to traditional employment.

Friday will be the last chance to view the entire Painted Paddle exhibition before the paddles are divided up to auction winners.

Paddles will be on display at 6 p.m. on Friday at Jason Wilkins Factory Action winners will be able to pick up their paddle art pieces at the Jason Wilkins Factory from 8 - 10 p.m.

“I am super excited that my studio, the Jason Wilkins Factory, will be displaying all 34 beautiful paddles created by local artists for the DBIA’s Paddle Project, to raise funds for One City Peterborough,” Jason Wilkins, local artist and owner of Jason Wilkins Factory. “It’ll be amazing to see all that beautiful work together in one spot and hung alongside other works by 15 Peterborough Arts Collective artists- for our monthly group show.”

For more information on the Painted Paddle project contact the DBIA Vibrancy Manager, Dawn Pond by email at dawn@ptbodbia.ca.

Engage with us on social media on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and Tiktok. Write to us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Sign up for PTBOBuzz newsletter here.

Peterborough Public Library Lending Free Carbon Dioxide Monitoring Devices

The Peterborough Public Library has been donated 10 carbon dioxide detectors available for rent for free beginning Friday.

CO2 monitoring devices are not the same thing as carbon monoxide detectors as they involve two different gasses. The main source of CO2 is from human exhalation.Carbon monoxide is a colourless, odourless, tasteless gas produced by burning gasoline, wood, propane, charcoal or other fuel. Photo by Luke Best.

The detectors were donated by Prescientx and CO2 Check. Peterborough is allegedly the first municipality in North America to lend the detectors according to their press release.

“We are excited to offer this new service so anyone with a library card can borrow a device to measure the carbon dioxide levels in their home for a period of time,” said Jennifer Jones, Peterborough Public Library CEO. “We hope widespread access to this tool empowers local residents to take the steps needed to improve their indoor air quality, which ultimately benefits everyone’s health.”

The carbon dioxide detector comes with a fact sheet with operating instructions and how to improve the air quality in people’s homes.

The sheet was created by the library after a collaboration of air quality experts worldwide including the National Collaborating Centre for Environmental Health, Yale University, University of Colorado, London School of Hygiene and Tropical Medicine and Prescientx.

Dr. Thomas Piggott, Peterborough Public Health’s Medical Officer of Health worked with the library to create the initiative.

“Measuring CO2 is the first step to addressing indoor air quality and it’s easy to correct if levels are elevated by taking simple actions such as increasing air circulation, using air filtration, reducing the number of people in a room, removing the source of any potential pollutants,” said Piggott.

For more information, please visit www.ptbolibrary.ca and www.peterboroughpublichealth.ca.

Engage with us on social media on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and Tiktok. Write to us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Sign up for PTBOBuzz newsletter here.