kawarthaNOW | News, events, and community information for residents, visitors, and cottagers in Peterborough and The Kawarthas

Elisha Rubacha, community campaign officer for the United Way Peterborough & District, collected more than 6,000 menstrual hygiene products for the organization's Period Promise campaign at the Women's Business Network of Peterborough Galentine's Day event on February 4, 2026. Formerly called Tampon Tuesday and now being held for its 10th year, the campaign aims to create conversations around period poverty and stigma while collecting a record-breaking 25,000 products to donate to the Kawartha Food Share for distribution to local partner agencies. (Photo courtesy of United Way Peterborough & District)

United Way’s Period Promise campaign aims to collect 25,000 menstrual hygiene products for those in need

Products donated by March 13 will be given to Kawartha Food Share to distribute to local member agencies in the city and county of Peterborough

Megan Gallant - February 19, 2026

High volunteer rates are consistently associated with stronger social networks, higher capacity to support vulnerable populations, and increased community resilience during times of crisis. Surgical outpatient volunteers like Haniya Fazli greet patients at Peterborough Regional Health Centre before their procedures offering pre-surgical compassion, reassurance, and guidance. (Photo: Natasha Roulston / Peterborough Regional Health Centre)

Through a robust network of volunteers, Peterborough can become more proactive, resilient, and united

Juno award-winning Canadian singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist Bahamas will be performing with a full band on the to close out the Peterborough Folk Festival on the Miskin Law Main Stage at Nicholls Oval Park on August 16, 2026. (Publicity photo)

Juno award-winning artist Bahamas to close out the Peterborough Folk Festival this summer

Artist Pat Calvert poses in front of a section of her mural at Five Counties Children's Centre in Peterborough, with Silly the Goldfish in the frame. Silly is a character that shows up around 500 times in various different situations and poses on the expansive, water-themed mural that has graced the walls and hallways of Five Counties for nearly 25 years. (Photo: Five Counties Children's Centre)

A legacy in paint: How Pat Calvert’s imagination transformed the halls of Five Counties Children’s Centre

Peterborough mayor Jeff Leal displays a map showing the Coldsprings growth area at the southern edge of the city during a general committee meeting on February 17, 2026 where council unanimously approved allocating funding for a secondary planning study, with the city considering the area as an ideal location for an Alto high-speed rail station due to its large area, proximity to existing transportation facilities, and "relatively unencumbered land use pattern." (kawarthaNOW screenshot of City of Peterborough video)

City of Peterborough eyes Coldsprings growth area for potential Alto high-speed rail station

Council unanimously approves secondary planning study funding as staff describe Coldsprings as 'ideal location' due to its large area and proximity to transportation

Bruce Head - February 18, 2026

The General Electric factory complex at 107 Park Street North in downtown Peterborough, which began operations in 1891 as the Canadian Works of the Thomas Edison Company and later continued under General Electric. The site includes a complex of 33 buildings built between 1891 and 1981 and used for industrial manufacturing and ancillary purposes. In 2018, General Electric ceased its manufacturing activities on the site, with most of the buildings now decommissioned with machinery and equipment removed. (Photo: Google Earth)

Peterborough city council excludes four GE factory buildings from heritage designation and debates demolition oversight

Dave Kranenburg is the founder of Graze & Gather, which originally launched as a virtual farmers' market during the pandemic and now functions as the Kawartha Local Food Wholesale program's Green Circle Food Hub. Supporting expanded production and procurement within Peterborough County, the City of Peterborough, and the City of Kawartha Lakes, the Green Circle Food Hub is seeking participation from local food producers and buyers interested in showcasing local ingredients. (Photo: Graze & Gather)

The Local Advantage with Peterborough County: Graze & Gather makes it easy for local food producers to connect with buyers

Cars on a road in a winter snow storm. (Stock photo)

Snowfall warning now in effect for much of Kawarthas region for Wednesday

The Tiffany Show’s third annual IWD Party on March 8 honours local women, shared stories, and meaningful connection

Free community-driven celebration at The Venue in Peterborough also features pampering from small businesses, the return of the Self-Love Mirror, and lots of fun surprises

Megan Gallant - February 17, 2026

As part of a three-month public engagement consultation process on the Canada's first-ever high-speed rail project, Alto will be hosting a drop-in open house on February 26, 2026 at the McDonnel Street Community Centre in Peterborough where community members can ask questions, provide feedback, and share concerns about the proposed corridor. Alto's first two open houses, held in Ottawa and Montreal on January 21 and 22, collectively saw more than 1,000 attendees. (Photo courtesy of Alto)

Help get high-speed rail on track by joining Alto’s public consultation in Peterborough on February 26

At the 2025 Kawartha Lakes Youth Awards, the Fenelon Falls Youth Impact Council (Ella Austin Scollick, Sofia Entzin-Telford, Cooper Young, and Avalon Loube) won the Leadership Award, with Loube also winning the Humanitarian Award. (Photo: BGC Kawarthas)

Kawartha Lakes Youth Awards nominations open to recognize young leaders

Experience new Canadian works for the stage at the Brand New Stages Festival in downtown Peterborough

United Way’s Period Promise campaign aims to collect 25,000 menstrual hygiene products for those in need

Megan Gallant - February 19, 2026

Products donated by March 13 will be given to Kawartha Food Share to distribute to local member agencies in the city and county of Peterborough.

Through a robust network of volunteers, Peterborough can become more proactive, resilient, and united

February 19, 2026

City of Peterborough eyes Coldsprings growth area for potential Alto high-speed rail station

February 18, 2026

Peterborough city council excludes four GE factory buildings from heritage designation and debates demolition oversight

February 18, 2026

Snowfall warning now in effect for much of Kawarthas region for Wednesday

February 17, 2026

The Local Advantage with Peterborough County: Graze & Gather makes it easy for local food producers to connect with buyers

Megan Gallant - February 17, 2026

The Kawartha Local Food Wholesale program's Green Circle Food Hub aims to support local agriculture by expanding both production and wholesale procurement.

Burleigh Falls Inn is one of 18 local businesses participating in the Lakefield Village Lions Club's sixth annual Lakefield Chocolate Creations Festival, serving up a Chocolate Love Bomb made with rich chocolate brownie, raspberry coulis, freeze dried raspberries, and pistachio. Running until February 17, 2026, the festival invites community members and visitors to tour participating businesses in the village to try specialty chocolate creations and vote on their favourites. The success of the event has inspired the Millbrook & District Lions Club to launch the inaugural Roar for Chocolate Event across Millbrook until February 21, 2026. (Photo: Lakefield Village Lions Club)

Know Your Locals: Lakefield Chocolate Creations Festival inspires Millbrook to ‘Roar for Chocolate’

February 12, 2026

Located in Selwyn Township, McLean Berry Farm is one of more than 800 farms operating on more than 180,000 acres of farmland across Peterborough County. To support the farms that significantly contribute to the region's economic prosperity, Peterborough County Economic Development is supporting and promotes initiatives like the Kawartha Local Food Wholesale program, which makes it easy for food buyers to purchase wholesale from local producers. (Photo: Peterborough County Economic Development)

Growing local: Peterborough County is strengthening the farm economy

February 9, 2026

Jena Trimble founded Zen Home and Cottage Cleaning Services in 2020 to support clients across The Kawarthas. Now taking on more residential clients, the company and its dedicated team offers deep cleans and regular maintenance as well as additional services including wash-and-fold laundry services with free pickup and delivery. Jena's team of full-time and part-time cleaning professionals uses an original all-natural and all-purpose cleaner that's also available for purchase and refills. (Photo: Zen Home and Cottage Cleaning Services)

Know Your Locals: Zen Home and Cottage Cleaning Services will clean your space and clear your mind

February 8, 2026

Katy Shufelt, pictured with Scott Murson of Wild Rock Outfitters, won the grand prize draw of $1,500 in Boro gift cards as part of the annual Holiday Shopping Passport program organized by the Peterborough Downtown Business Improvement Area (DBIA). Shufelt is donating a portion of her prize to Wild Rock's ComPassion Project, which raises funds and awareness for six local organizations working on the front lines of social and environmental change. (Photo: Peterborough DBIA)

Katy Shufelt wins Peterborough DBIA’s Holiday Shopping Passport grand prize draw

January 12, 2026

Juno award-winning artist Bahamas to close out the Peterborough Folk Festival this summer

kawarthaNOW - February 19, 2026

Singer-songwriter and multi-instrumentalist will perform with a full band on August 16 at at Nicholls Oval Park on the main stage once again sponsored by Miskin Law.

Experience new Canadian works for the stage at the Brand New Stages Festival in downtown Peterborough

February 16, 2026

Joe Grant of LLF Lawyers, United Way Peterborough & District executive director Jim Russell, performer musician Mark Beatty, main stage emcee Ella Bates, and event co-founder and organizer Paul Rellinger during a media event at Showplace Performance Centre on February 12, 2026 to promote the Peterborough Performs VI: Musicians United To End Homelessness benefit concert on Thursday, February 26. (Photo: Adeline Murphy / United Way)

Peterborough Performs VI benefit concert and virtual auction aims to ‘make a whack of money’ for the United Way

February 13, 2026

The annual "Blue Valentine" show is a tribute by local musicians to the music of Peterborough singer-songwriter Willie P. Bennett, who passed away in 2008. This year, the concert will also honour the music of late Peterborough singer-songwriters Cris Cuddy and Joe Hall. Emceed by "Washboard Hank" Fisher, the tribute runs on Saturday afternoon at Jethro's Bar + Stage in downtown Peterborough. (kawarthaNOW collage)

nightlifeNOW – February 12 to 18

February 12, 2026

Carling Dulder as Anna and Eddy Sweeney as Wesley recalling the life-defining moments of their high school years during a rehearsal of the Peterborough Theatre Guild's production of "Midnight Madness" by award-winning Peterborough-born playwright Dave Carley. Directed by Jane Werger and produced by Diane Théberge, the heartfelt comedy runs for 10 performances from February 27 to March 14, 2026. (Photo: Jordan Lyall Photography)

‘A laugh-at-life comedy, but there are tears too’: Peterborough Theatre Guild stages Dave Carley’s ‘Midnight Madness’

February 11, 2026

Ask the energy experts: Free open house in Peterborough on February 18 targets small business savings

GreenUP - February 12, 2026

Informal 'ask my anything' breakfast session hosted by Peterborough DBIA and GreenUP will cover heat pumps, solar energy, general efficiency upgrades, and more.

Organizers, sponsors, and some of the 60 nominees for the second annual Luminary Awards for Women in Business during a nominee announcement at the Peterborough and the Kawarthas Chamber of Commerce offices on February 11, 2026. (Photo: Jordan Lyall Photography)

60 women nominated for second annual Luminary Awards for Women in Business

February 11, 2026

Community Futures Peterborough has announced a nine-part Entrepreneurship 101 workshop series for spring 2026, including two new workshops on SEO and e-commerce and employer obligations. (Photo: Community Futures Peterborough)

Community Futures Peterborough expands Entrepreneurship 101 series for spring

February 10, 2026

Brody Klages is the Electrical Team Lead at Peterborough's Quickmill, which has grown into one of the world's leading manufacturers of large-scale machining centers over the past 40 years. With the U.S. currently its most important export market, Quickmill is pursuing a diversified growth strategy and has been invited by the federal government to join a select group of Canadian export-ready companies for the Team Canada Trade Mission to Mexico from February 15 to 20, 2026. (Photo: Jordan Lyall Photography)

Peterborough manufacturer Quickmill is pursuing a diversified growth strategy amid shifting trade winds

February 9, 2026

The City of Kawartha Lakes unveiled a sign on November 18, 2025 to mark the site of the new $50-million Kawartha Lakes Paramedic Headquarters at 230 Angeline Street South in Lindsay. (Photo: City of Kawartha Lakes)

Trade contractors invited to apply for new $50-million Kawartha Lakes Paramedic Headquarters in Lindsay

February 6, 2026

A legacy in paint: How Pat Calvert’s imagination transformed the halls of Five Counties Children’s Centre

Five Counties Children's Centre - February 18, 2026

Created in 2002 in memory of her mom, the artist's expansive mural at the Peterborough site continues to enchant children and their families to this day.

A red wooden heart on a dark background. (Stock photo)

Celebrate Valentine’s Day at the Electric City Sex & Wellness Expo hosted by PARN

February 10, 2026

The Haliburton Highlands detachment of the Ontario Provincial Police (OPP) is located at 12598 Highway 35 in Minden. (Photo: OPP)

Haliburton County high school students can learn about a career in policing at upcoming youth in policing academy

February 9, 2026

The City of Peterborough is presenting the annual Snofest family-friendly winter festival on the Family Day long weekend from February 13 to 16, 2026. This year, free indoor skating will run on Family Day Monday on both ice pads at the Miskin Law Community Complex. Other Snofest events take place at McDonnel Street Community Centre, Peterborough Sport and Wellness Centre, Quaker Foods City Square, the Peterborough Public Library, and the Art Gallery of Peterborough. (Photo: City of Peterborough)

Peterborough’s Snofest returns for the Family Day long weekend with four days of free winter fun

February 7, 2026

Allowing children to engage in play is an important way kids make sense of the world and understand their own boundaries. Climbing a snow pile (in a safe location) during a winter walk to school is a great example of letting kids take reasonable risks and gain confidence through play. (Photo: Clara Blakelock / GreenUP)

How a winter walk to school is both beneficial and fun for kids

February 5, 2026

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