Peterborough and District Labour Council Hosting Free Labour Day BBQ at Nicholls Oval

The Peterborough and District Labour Council (PDLC) is hosting a free Labour Day BBQ at Nicholls Oval on Monday from 11:30 a.m. to 2 p.m.

Photo courtesy of the Peterborough and District Labour Council.

There will be music, children’s entertainment and food at the event.

The theme for this year’s event is ‘Workers Together: For a Better Deal.’ Labour activists and their families from across the county will gather for the occasion according to a press release.

“We’ve made significant progress at the federal level on key issues like anti-scab legislation, pharmacare, and sustainable jobs. These achievements are a testament to what workers can achieve when we come together,” said Dave Warda, PDLC president.

Karen Littlewood, Ontario Secondary School Teachers’ Federation president, will be a guest at the BBQ.

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Photos: Lakefield Agricultural Society Brings the Family Fun With Its 169th Lakefield Fair

Animals, tractor pulls and bouncy castles were all present at the Lakefield Agricultural Society’s 169th Lakefield Fair which ran from Friday to Sunday at the Lakefield Fairgrounds.

Mabel gets a little grooming and love from Abby Staples before the Lakefield Fair's Cattle Show. All photos by David Tuan Bui.

The Fair is organized by Lakefield Agricultural Society volunteers, with the majority of them as farmers.

Saturday featured a politician raspberry pie baking contest. Participants included Bonnie Clark, Peterborough County Warden; Sherry Senis, Selwyn Mayor; Michelle Ferreri, Peterborough-Kawartha MP; Dave Smith, Peterborough-Kawartha MPP and winner Terry Lambshead, Trent Lakes Mayor.

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Peterborough County Cattlemen's Association Hosting 42nd Annual All-You-Can-Eat BBQ Aug. 10

The Peterborough County Cattlemen’s Association is holding its 42 Annual All-You-Can-Eat BBQ at Whiskey Lane Livestock located at 2295 on Hwy 7, Indian River on Aug. 10.

Photo courtesy of Peterborough County Cattlemen's Association.

Activities and the Peterborough County 4-H Beef Club Achievement Day starting at 1 p.m.

An animal show and sale starts at the conclusion of the beef show, slated for 3 p.m. Dinner is being served at 5 p.m. until 7 p.m. with all-you-can-eat barbecued beef, baked potatoes, baked beans, a dinner roll and dessert.

The association is asking guests to bring their own plates and cutlery but there are some at the event. There is plenty of space for lawn chairs.

Tickets can be purchased at the gate with cash or debit. Adults are $25 while children aged six to 12 are $10. Kids under six are free.

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July 21 to 27 Is National Drowning Prevention Week For the City of Peterborough

The City of Peterborough will host a drowning prevention educational event with community organizations and emergency services on Wednesday during National Drowning Prevention Week (July 21 – 27).

Photo courtesy of The City of Peterborough.

The open event will include interactive displays, such as trying on life jackets and information on water activity safety.

Peterborough Fire Services, Peterborough Police Service, Peterborough County-City Paramedics, Fleming College, the YMCA, the City of Peterborough and Peterborough lifeguards are participating in the event.

It will be held from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. at Beavermead Park beach as a drop-by event.

Swim to Survive classes are open to all age groups. There is no fee to participate. Registration is required as spaces are limited to ensure the appropriate number of instructors. To register for Swim to Survive, go online then select Swim to Survive under the Splash section or call 705-742-0050.

The next Swim to Survive session starts on Aug. 10 at Beavermead Park beach and runs for one hour on Saturdays for three consecutive weeks: August 10, 17, and 24, from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.

Swim to Survive is a Lifesaving Society-designed program that teaches water safety and how to survive if one unexpectedly falls into deep water. This includes how to roll into deep water, tread water for one minute, and swim 50 metres.

An adult must accompany children under 12 years old.

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Photos: Barbeques Are Firing Up For the 19th Annual Kawartha Rotary Ribfest

The barbeques are fired up as the 19th Annual Kawartha Rotary Ribfest is underway at Millennium Park from Friday to Sunday.

Giovanni Spina of Jack the Ribber gets a delicious rack of ribs ready for a hungry customer. They are one of four rib vendors at this year's Ribfest. All photos by David Tuan Bui.

The event is filled with activities, food and entertainment that will cater to all walks of life according to Susan Zambonin, Habitat for Humanity CEO.

“We have four ribbers this year, we have a number of food vendors and other vendors,” she explained. “We have lots of entertainment, we've also added family-friendly entertainment. We have a magician here, face-painting for the kids and colouring.”

Proceeds from the event go towards the Rotary Club of Peterborough Kawartha and its community projects. Their main one includes building a washroom for the Brock Mission.

Rib vendors at the event are Boss Hog’s BBQ, Fat Boys Barbeque, Silver Bullet, Bar-B-Q and Jack the Ribber. Other food options from the vendors include brisket, pulled pork, chicken and cornbread.

Other vendors available are Corn, Beaver Tails, Kettle Curls, Poutine Supreme, Lemonade, Mr. Kettle Corn and Kawartha Buttertart Factory.

Live entertainment with 15 groups are set for the stage throughout the three days.

The following are the operating hours of Ribfest:

• Friday: Noon to 11 p.m.

• Saturday: Noon to 11 p.m.

• Sunday: Noon to 5 p.m.

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City to Celebrate National Drowning Prevention Week From July 21 to 27

The City of Peterborough will host its annual Swim to Survive and drowning prevention educational programs at Beavermead Park beach starting July 13.

Photo courtesy of The City of Peterborough.

Swim to Survive classes are open to all age groups with no fee to participate. Registration is required as spaces are limited to ensure the appropriate number of instructors. To register, visit peterborough.ca/RegisterRec then select Swim to Survive under the Splash section or call 705-742-0050.

There are two Swim to Survive sessions, with three classes in each session at Beavermead Park Beach.

Each class is for an hour on Saturday for three consecutive weeks:

• Session A is on July 13, 20 and 27, from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.

• Session B is on Aug. 10, 17 and 24, from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m.

Swim to Survive is a Lifesaving Society-designed program that teaches people water safety and how to survive if they unexpectedly fall into deep water. This includes how to roll into deep water, tread water for one minute, and swim 50 metres.

Children under 12 years old must be accompanied by an adult.

In addition to the Swim to Survive program, the City will host a drowning prevention educational event at Beavermead Park beach from 9:30 a.m. to 10:30 a.m. on July 24 during National Drowning Prevention Week.

The drop-in event will include information on water activity safety and interactive displays, such as trying on life jackets. Anyone is welcome to attend.

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Lang Pioneer Village Hosting 27th Annual Transportation Day Car & Motorcycle Show July 14

Lang Pioneer Village is showcasing antique and classic cars and vintage motorcycles from across the province during the 27th Annual Transportation Day Car & Motorcycle Show on July 14 from 10 a.m to 3 p.m.

Photo courtesy of Lang Pioneer VIllage.

Guests can tour the village by horse-drawn wagon ride or stroll as they view cars, trucks and motorcycles of every make and model.

Demonstrations include broom making, shingle making at the Shingle Mill and grinding at the Lang Grist Mill are available for viewing. Enjoy performances by the Peterborough Scottish Country Dance Society.

There will be displays by the Peterborough County City Paramedics, Peterborough Speedway and the Canadian Armed Forces.

A pancake breakfast is served while supplies last in the Peterborough County Agricultural Heritage Building (additional fee applies). Refreshments and sweet treats will be available for purchase throughout the day at the Keene Hotel or you can enjoy a traditional European-brewed craft beer in the Haven Brewing Company beer garden. Ben’s Kettle Corn will be popping up fresh kettle corn, fresh Empire Cheese curd and bread available for purchase in the Cheese Factory and the Keene Lions Club food truck will be onsite selling BBQ goods (cash only).

Anyone bringing a vehicle to display, participant registration runs from 8 a.m. to noon. The $10 registration fee includes admission into the village. The first 200 vehicles to enter will receive a complimentary dash plaque as a souvenir of their participation. Over 25 trophies will be awarded, including the coveted People’s Choice and Lang’s Choice.

Admission is $15 for adults, $10 for students and seniors (60+), $7 for youths (ages 5-14) and free for children under five. Family admission is also available for $40 and includes two adults and up to four youths (ages 5-14).

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Road Closures and Fireworks In Place For Peterborough's Canada Day Parade

This year’s Canada Day Parade see road closures and fireworks during the ceremony slated for this Monday.

Photo by Samantha Bianco.

The parade’s 30 entries will travel down George Street from City Hall, 500 George St. N., to Del Crary Park next to Little Lake starting at noon.

Pre-parade activities start at 10 a.m. at Confederation Square across from City Hall and include a bike decorating contest, games, giveaways and temporary Canada Day tattoos and flags.

Peterborough Pop Ensemble will perform starting around 10:30 a.m. at City Hall and will lead the crowd in signing O Canada to kick off the parade procession.

Morello’s Your Independent Grocer will donate ‘Happy Birthday Canada’ cupcakes to share with the crowd at City Hall ahead of the parade.

Temporary road closures for the event will be in place from 9 a.m. to 1:30 p.m.:

• Murray Street – from the east side of Aylmer Street to the west side of Water Street

• George Street – from the south side of McDonnel Street to the north side of Murray Street

George Street from Brock Street to Rink Street is being treated as a rolling road closure while the parade is underway.

As part of the Canada Day celebrations, a fireworks display provided by the City will be held over Little Lake from 9:30 p.m. to 10 p.m. on Monday following the Peterborough Musicfest concert at Del Crary Park featuring the Road Apples, a tribute to The Tragically Hip.

There will be a temporary road closure on Crescent Street near the T-wharf before and during the fireworks display. Access to local traffic will be maintained.

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Elizabeth Fry Society's Tearing Down Walls On Drug Addiction For Anti-Stigma Day

Elizabeth Fry Society kickstarted dialogue for those suffering from drug addiction as it held its fourth annual Anti-Stigma Day at Millennium Park on Wednesday afternoon.

Kayla Farewell, Elizabeth Fry housing case manager (left) and Mourin Moyen, Elizabeth Fry volunteer (right), hold anti-stigma rocks that were hand-painted at the event and available for attendees. This is the fourth annual event by the Society which began in 2021 and runs every June 26. Photo by David Tuan Bui.

The event is always held on June 26 and runs alongside the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime’s ‘International Day Against Drug Abuse and Illicit Trafficking.’ It supports the war on drugs and helps destigmatize those who are struggling while using substances.

Anti-Stigma Day is one way of creating awareness and dialogue. Understanding those suffering from drug addictions is one way to destigmatize the notion according to Kayla Farewell, Elizabeth Fry housing case manager.

“It's not always a choice. Addiction can be really hard to come out and mostly what we ask for is just understanding,” she explained. Everyone is walking their own path. All of these organizations believe in walking alongside people as they walk their own path and it's just showing that compassion, understanding and a willingness to learn. A lot of the stigma comes from not knowing from ignorance whether that's purposeful or not.”

The YES Shelter, One City PTBO, Moms Stop the Harm, John Howard Society, Peterborough Action for Tiny Homes, Peterborough AIDS Resource Network, Peterborough 260 Nurse Practitioner-Left Clinic, Peterborough Public Health and Canadian Addiction Treatment Services were in attendances with tables to offer information sessions during the event.

Farewell says being open about having a conversation and not shying away from it, whether you are suffering or hearing out someone else, is a huge step towards ending the stigma.

“Starting dialogues with people, even people that you love, that you know have an addiction in the past, making sure you're not afraid to talk about it and making sure that you're not afraid to look away,” she said. “It is very present in our community and the instinct for a lot of people is just to look the other way but it's very important to come together as a community to help the people who live here who use substances.”

A community effort of having sympathy and empathy for those who are suffering from drug addiction is vital to destigmatization.

“They are just people,” said Farewell. “We are all a bad event from being in that position ourselves so having that sympathy, having that love and approaching it with open arms is really the key to all of it. It's takes community to come to get to help lift people up out of the tough spots.”

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Canada Day Starts Early For Lakefield Farmer's Market On June 27

Canada Day celebrations are coming early for the Lakefield Farmers’ Market which will mark the occasion on June 27 from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Lakefield-Smith Community Centre parking lot at 20 Concession St.

The Lakefield Farmers’ Market runs every Thursday from 9 a.m. to 1 p.m., rain or shine, from Victoria Day until Thanksgiving. The Farmers’ Market is located behind the Lakefield-Smith Community Centre, next to Isabel Morris Park along the Otonabee River, and just steps from the Lakefield Marina and the Lakefield Trail. Photo courtesy of Lakefield Farmer’s Market.

Staff and volunteers will hand out small Canadian flags, temporary maple leaf tattoos and Canadian-themed colouring sheets. The Lakefield Village Lions Club will be in attendance with their boat raffle and Avian Agenda will provide Canadian live music.

Pam Hart from the Kawartha Truth & Reconciliation Support Group will be present with its quilt. Each square on it tells its own unique story.

Market vendors will be fully stocked with Canada Day supplies including fresh produce for salads, local meat for the BBQ, fresh baking, craft beer, VQA wines and more.

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