The Lindsay Advocate - October 2025

Vital

Lunch with Carley Reynolds

Signs

Shining a light on community health

Ant Man: Former Lindsay resident says robotic bugs coming

EAR CLINIC

SOUND SOLUTIONS FOR A CLEAR TOMORROW

At Lindsay Ear Clinic, our goal is to provide comprehensive audiological assessments. From the results of these assessments, we will educate, and inform our patients so they can make an informed decision about their hearing needs.

Your story is our priority, we’re here for you!

ARE A FULL SERVICE HEARING CLINIC

Choose from one of our three locations in Lindsay, Bobcaygeon or Bancroft

One of our Audiologists will run you through a series of tests and then discuss options to help you return to better hearing.

CHOOSE YOUR HEARING AID

We’re confident we can find the perfect device to suit your needs.

ANNE MARIE SINASAC

AuD., Doctor of Audiology, Registered CASLPO Audiologist

DENYSE ROWE B.Sc., M.Cl.Sc., Aud(c), Registered CASLPO Audiologist

BRENT ROBINSON H.B.Sc., M.Cl.Sc., Reg. CASLPO

Clubs remove financial barriers to participation by keeping program costs affordable and subsidizing all of its programs for families who can’t afford to pay.

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A Place Called Home turns 30.

Community health as measured by new Vital Signs report. letters to the editor 6 • benns’ belief 9 • business today 26 sarah’s say 30 • KL public library 34 • cool tips for a hot planet 39 • just in time 40 trevor’s take 42 • the marketplace 44 • newcomer 46

She couldn’t escape trauma but art has helped Carley Reynolds see her way through.

our mission

Fireside Publishing House is the premier print media company in Kawartha Lakes through its family of magazines and all-local weekly newspaper. We believe that community-based media can bring people together and change lives for the better through the power of storytelling, reflecting local culture, and creating informed and engaged citizens. Our commitment is to deliver high-quality and relevant content that reflects the diverse voices and experiences of our communities. We believe in the transformative power of local media to inspire, educate, and empower.

Artist Carley Reynolds heading home after an afternoon spent painting in the park. Photo: Roderick Benns.

to the editor

Better transit would help unite us

We agree with letter writer Randy Neals about growing healthy neighbourhoods. One of the ways is to have a better transit system that would unite our communities better. Council said last year they hoped to have a big announcement about GO Bus service, but it is now October and no announcement yet.

Lindsay Transit does not cover enough of Lindsay. For example, Logie Park was rebuilt for all to enjoy. But the city bus does not stop at the park. The bus stop is a distance down Logie Street and the bus uses Primeau Crescent as a fast turn-around. Why not stop at the park entrance and again at the corner of Lindsay Street South to pick up people who must live or work in that area.

Neals mentioned local neighbourhood restaurants that are not recognized. While the Airport Restaurant and St. Dave’s Diner are fantastic places, they are not downtown and not serviced by a transit bus. But The Queen’s Bistro is on a main arterial road and is the only place on the east side that is a neighbourhood restaurant. We do not recognize enough businesses that are not in what is perceived as downtown or in the west end.

— Bill and Heather Peter, Lindsay

Dirty coal the environmental culprit

A recent letter from a member of SCAN links fires, floods, and heat waves to climate change and implies that we Canadians can do something about it by reducing our own emissions. The truth is that even eliminating our share of global emissions completely (1.5 per cent) would have no noticeable effect.

The real opportunity lies in helping the world replace coal, the dirtiest fuel. That’s why it is significant that Prime Minister Mark Carney has identified the LNG project in Kitimat, phase two as one of his top five projects to fast-track. LNG exports can cut emissions in Asia by displacing coal, halving CO2 output while virtually eliminating deadly particulate and SO2 If Canada wants to make a global difference, this is where it counts.

— Carl Sweetman, Lindsay

Kawartha Art Gallery is moving

We know you have been hearing this for a while — and we are happy to confirm: the move for the Kawartha Art Gallery is real, just slightly delayed.

As the only not-for-profit public art gallery in Kawartha Lakes, Kawartha Art Gallery is proud to represent our community through inclusive, creative, cultural programming.

After a significant stumbling block, the stepping stones are now firmly in place — with the vision for the gallery finally moving forward. Linborough Properties and Kawartha Art Gallery confirms that Kawartha Art Gallery will be welcoming all to a grand opening at 19 Cambridge Street South, Lindsay in 2026.

Our new home is designed to help Kawartha Art Gallery grow that mission — strengthening the rural creative economy and reimagining the role of the arts in rural Ontario.

While the gallery is moving forward with an anticipated move date of spring 2026, this advancement could not been realized without the significant support of the City of Kawartha Lakes, Linborough Property Corp., and you, our community.

The gallery remains forever indebted to the dedicated support of our community. Your support is building a legacy that will uplift the next generation of artists, creators and changemakers.

— Susan Taylor and the board and staff of Kawartha Art Gallery

Thanks to the Grove Theatre for their magic

I’m so glad that we decided to attend the Jim Cuddy Trio at the Grove Theatre. About 250 fans welcomed Jim, Anne Lindsay and Colin Cripps back to the Grove for the third summer .

We enjoyed the entire concert which also featured the opening act of four talented artists led by Devin Cuddy. Having the Grove Theatre, the forest, stars, moon, and the amazing talent made it all fantastic. Many thanks for all the efforts each summer from the board, staff, sponsors, and volunteers, who all make the Grove work so well.

It was a magical night in the Kawarthas, just in time for our 29th anniversary.

— Sandy and Ray Marshall, Lindsay

Stop Lindsay from becoming soulless

I fell in love with Lindsay the first time I visited from the UK in 1992. We emigrated in 2014 and set up home here in the town we loved. I appreciate that growth and progress are inevitable but please don’t let us become just another soulless dormitory town for Toronto. I’ve seen enough of these to make me realize that I wouldn’t want to live in one.

— Wendy MacKenzie, Lindsay

Dealing with climate change requires a strong economy

Re: Sherry Hillman’s letter (‘Canada is burning on Carney’s watch’: September Advocate.)

I believe in climate emergencies, too.

Were you aware that Mr. Carney is co-chair for the Glasgow Financial Alliance for Net Zero? He is also the UN special envoy for Climate Action and also head of transition investing at Brookfield Corporation. All of which means he’s been working to build funding to deal with climate charge. Brookfield has one of the world’s largest investments in renewable power and transition assets, with almost 46,000 megawatts of generating capacity.

To me this seems like an intense interest in climate matters, not the reverse.

What he has told Canadians on numerous occasions is that his team is intently and enthusiastically “building Canada strong” as its first priority. Why? Because until U.S. President Donald Trump’s tariffs are negotiated, until we’ve made strong commercial alliances with other countries to replace our now unreliable U.S. trading partner, our economy, and theirs, is going to be unreliable, our industries are going to falter – and people are going to lose the work that sustains their families.

Once the economy is stronger it will be the perfect moment to invest in the transitioning plans that will turn Canada into a clean energy superpower. That feels like the right sequence to me.

The wildfires have been building for years, and yet there’s been no federal action and no plan to deal with them, until now under Carney’s watch.

— Andrea Percy, Lindsay

The Advocate welcomes your letters. We do not publish anonymous letters unless it’s a matter of public importance and/or someone risks harm by writing us. We publish under strict guidelines & only if we can verify the person’s identity. Keep your letters to 200 words or less. Simply email roderick@lindsayadvocate.ca.

Time to ban backyard bonfires in urban areas

After a hot, smoke-filled summer with bans throughout the province, the ban was lifted in August after minimal rain.

We looked forward to finally spending time outdoors – that is until illegal backyard bonfires filled the air with toxic, acrid smoke forcing us to stay inside with the windows closed. Not to mention having to continually run expensive air conditioning to compensate.

I speak for many of us who no longer want to breathe unhealthy, toxic smoke-filled air. What are our rights?

There were plenty of poor air quality days from forest fires raging out of control across Canada, Ontario and in the Northern Kawarthas. The prediction is a forest fires future. Deadly health consequences and symptoms of smoke inhalation have been well documented.

Our previous mayor stated that very few, if any backyards meet the Fire Bylaw (2016-110) criteria and rendered them illegal. Still, nothing was done. Lindsay is no longer a small town but a rapidly growing city with natural gas lines running throughout and safety is also a concern in this regard. We are not anti-bonfire and believe they have a place, outside of our rapidly growing city. Peterborough banned backyard bonfires years ago. It’s time council followed their lead. Clean air is not only our right, but a necessity for our survival.

— A. Johnston, Kawartha Lakes

Event Details:

Date: Wednesday, Oct. 15 Time: 6–7:30 p.m.

Location: Launch Kawartha

Meet the pa

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Our community’s health, finally measured

By Roderick Benns Publisher

Advocate, writer

Sarah Fournier delves into one of the most important documents Kawartha Lakes has seen in a long time – the Kawartha Community Foundation’s Vital Signs report.

Vital Signs is Canada’s largest community-focused data program, led by Community Foundations of Canada. This just-released report is a snapshot of the health of our community along 11 core areas. Health, immigration, seniors, safety, the environment and more.

The collected data supports evidencebased solutions that are tailored to each community. The report is meant to stimulate discussion and encourage civic participation. It helps us know where to direct community resources for the greatest possible impact.

As an example of how these reports can catalyze change, we can look to the immediate south. Durham Region experienced a shocking increase in food insecurity in recent years. Dramatic cost of living spikes sparked a jump from 16.5 per cent of food-insecure households in 2019 to more than 25 per cent in 2023. This was driven by a massive surge in food prices and an alarming rise in housing costs between 2020 and 2024.

To that end, they dedicated their 2024 Vital Signs report solely to food insecurity. With an all-hands-on-deck approach, partner agencies used the report’s network-wide data to secure emergency government funding. This boosted weekly distribution of food by 20 per cent in early 2025. They also successfully lobbied for a pilot program of a new “groceries and essentials” benefit. This meant direct grocery subsidies to 1,200 low-income households this past year.

In other words, Vital Signs reports can be effective because they define specific areas of concern.

Of course, what any changemaker fights against is the powerful, self-perpetuating system that’s already in place. System change is one of the most difficult things to accomplish in leadership.

My favourite writer on this topic is Seth Godin. He sees understanding systems as essential for moral leadership, to be able to see invisible forces that perpetuate inequality, environmental destruction, and social injustice, among other challenges. Once we can understand systems, we can work with them strategically, rather than being controlled by them.

Of course, what any changemaker fights against is the powerful, self-perpetuating system that’s already in place. System change is one of the most difficult things to accomplish in leadership.

But we can’t tear down entire systems. That’s almost never realistic. Instead, we need what Godin argues for – a strategic intervention within what we have now. That’s where this new Vital Signs report can come in. It shows where we need to intervene so we can figure out what to do next. We must graft system solutions –probably local solutions – onto challenges that right now seem intractable.

For example, in Sarah Fournier’s cover story, we learn how lonely and isolated our new immigrant population is feeling right now. The system that brought them here obviously did not work how it was intended. An early thought from this desk is that the Advocate can help. We can play a role in helping new immigrants connect with employers, each other – and the rest of us. The hope will be this will provide them with a greater sense of agency and create more community cohesiveness. It’s early days for this report. Look for further analysis from us – and action where we can help.

NO CAPE REQUIRED ! !

The Kawartha region is a ver y special series of small communities. The are a is filled with an extraordinar y group of volunteers and civic minded individuals that dedicate themselves to create a richer, deeper and more fulfilling lifest yle for their friends and neighbours (and for people they don’t even know).

As one of those hard-working volunteers, you have been recognized as a Domino’s Pizza Volunteer of the Day.

As they say, “Not All Heroes We ar Capes!”.

Thank you for your hard work, dedication and passion. The full impact of your actions may never be fully seen but they will continue to reverberate for years to come.

ahill@nexicom.net

ahill@nexicom.net

ahill@nexicom.net lindsaydominos@gmail.com

A Place Called Home acknowledges 30 years of service to community

By Robyn Best

When A Place Called Home opened in 1995, staff never imagined it would turn into the space it is now is 30 years later. It’s a bittersweet feeling for many like Zita Devan, founding chair of A Place Called Home. Devan is proud of the work the organization has done but is also disappointed that there’s still a need for their services. “We shouldn’t be saying we’re celebrating because there’s nothing to celebrate about having homeless,” she said.

She said back in 1995 many people told her the community was facing a housing crisis, words often still heard today. “I don’t know why they call it a crisis. When you have a crisis, you do something about it,” she said.

What started off as a five-bedroom house has blossomed into a community hub that offers vital services for those in need. The building, located on Lindsay Street, offers emergency shelter for men, women and children, providing them with bedding, meals, access to hygiene, and support. They also offer drop-in services for those who are worried they may be at risk of becoming homeless to receive assistance. Nicole Bryant is the shelter and drop-in manager and has worked at the shelter for 26 years. She has seen many changes in how things are run. “There were homeless, but there was never a time where I felt that we weren’t meeting the need,” she said.

They weren’t dealing with external crises like the mental health and substance abuse seen today. Instead, they were dealing with things like family breakdowns and those going through temporary job loss where they knew they’d be employed and back on their feet in a couple of weeks.

“It was usually very situational and resolved, and then we wouldn’t see them again,” Bryant said.

The staff does their best to make those coming in feel welcomed, despite being in an unfortunate situation. “Whether you’re staff or someone seeking support, you’re treated with dignity and respect…for most folks that you’re serving that’s what they need at that point in their lives,” said Angela Ricciuti, executive director of A Place Called Home.

What started off as a five-bedroom house has blossomed into a community hub that offers vital services for those in need.

To mark the occasion of being open for 30 years, an anniversary event will take place on Friday Oct. 10 at Saint Andrew’s Presbyterian Church from 7-9 p.m. Tickets are free. “We would really welcome anybody who’s interested. Whether they’ve been involved with A Place Called Home for years, or whether they’re just wanting to get to know what we do, to come to that celebration,” Bryant said.

Eventgoers will be treated to presentations, guest speakers and live music to acknowledge the history of the organization.

A Place Called Home plans on continuing their work of serving those in need with no judgment. Bryant says while they do provide the most basic of needs, such as food and shower facilities, they’re “also making sure that you feel like a human,” something that makes all the difference for those facing homelessness.

Founding Chair Zita Devan, Executive Director Angela Ricciuti and Shelter Manager Nicole Bryant are acknowledging A Place Called home turning 30 this year. Photo: Robyn Best.

The inaugural report by the Kawartha Community Foundation will uncover what’s working, what’s missing, and where we

go from here.

By Sarah Fournier

There’s hardly a more crucial conversation for a community than one focused on our collective well-being.

Such vital conversations led the Kawartha Community Foundation to embark on so-called Vital Signs research, in partnership with the City of Kawartha Lakes, Kawartha Works Community Co-op, and other community groups. The research uses data to measure community wellbeing.

As part of a national program by Community Foundations of Canada, these reports assess a community’s health across 11 indicators, such as housing, education, safety, and the environment, ultimately revealing both challenges and opportunities. All data in the Vital Signs report is based on existing information combined with expert and community consultations, to give more local context.

This is more than numbers and charts: it’s a snapshot of who we are, where we’re struggling, and how our community can grow stronger together.

“Improving the quality of life is a really big goal,” says Laurie Dillon-Schalk, executive director of the Kawartha Community Foundation. “Some would say, where do you start and where do you end? We’ve always known the answers are in the data we already have access to. It’s just that no one has put it together to tell the story of community well-being yet.”

That, she explains, is why Vital Signs has become one of the foundation’s most significant investments. The value of providing a consistent, trusted “report card” on life in Kawartha Lakes comes from establishing one common baseline so that social service agencies, the municipality, and local organizations can begin aligning their resources toward the same priorities.

“In my career, I’ve found that when we’re focused on the same goals, we can move very quickly,” Dillon-Schalk explains. “In that way, it can unite us.”

For Kawartha Lakes, the initial research findings shine a light on early warning signs that demand our collective attention: high rates of preventable deaths, one of the oldest populations in Ontario, and fast-rising immigration with no dedicated services. These are not just statistics; they are the realities our neighbours face every day.

Of these, the issue felt most personally across Kawartha Lakes is health. The data shows our region has an above-average rate of preventable and treatable deaths, with twice the rate of opioid emergency visits and a related death rate 68 per cent higher than the rest of the province. These numbers represent lives cut short by conditions that could have been avoided or better managed with timely care. The severe shortage of family doctors is one of the most visible causes, leaving thousands without a trusted point of care. But the problem runs deeper. It also reflects individual behaviors, systemic barriers, and delayed access to treatment. In short, preventable deaths are the clearest signal of a system under strain.

For Kawartha Lakes, the initial research findings shine a light on early warning signs that demand our collective attention: high rates of preventable deaths, one of the oldest populations in Ontario, and fast-rising immigration with no dedicated services.

As Dr. Bert Lauwers, one of the key subject matter experts interviewed by the Vital Signs research teams and former CEO of Ross Memorial Hospital, explains understanding what “preventable” means is key to understanding what must change. “It’s related to things like safer behaviours, timely medical care, better systems of care in policies, and even sometimes public health. Like vaccination, for example.” According to Lauwers, these deaths can be categorized by medically preventable (delayed or lack of care), behaviourally preventable (choices like smoking or alcohol), and systemically preventable (barriers to accessing care). Treatable deaths, he notes, are different; they are lives that could have been saved after illness or injury, if proper treatment was available.

When Lauwers reviewed the data for Kawartha Lakes, the figures that jumped out were those of high substance abuse. Every category of drugs, including smoking and drinking, show significantly higher use in Kawartha Lakes when compared to the rest of the province, demon strating opportunities for reduction.

“The concerning thing was the daily smoking was much higher than the provincial average,” he de-

Dr. Bert Lauwers inside Ross Memorial Hospital’s atrium. Photo: Sienna Frost.

scribes. “And heavy drinking…we’re 23.1 per cent, and the remainder of the province is 16 per cent. That’s a big bump. You’re going to get all kinds of healthcare concerns related to that.”

Yet it was in the second look at the data where Lauwers made a potential connection between the high rates of opioid emergency visits with the local jail. He explained the link between incarceration and heightened risk of death from overdose, particularly in the first two weeks after release. “Individuals will come out of jail believing that they still have their old tolerances. And so they begin using again and it’s a very, very high-risk period,” he explains. “In fact, they’re at a 40 times greater risk of dying within those first weeks.”

Geography itself is another barrier. “If you’re sitting in Bobcaygeon and you’re experiencing abdominal pain or chest pain, you’re probably going to consider whether or not you want to go to the hospital or call an ambulance,” Lauwers explains. “So I think geography is really one of those impediments that can lead to delayed care,” given the only hospital in the city is in Lindsay.

The shortage of family doctors compounds the problem. “Family physicians are the linchpin of healthcare in the system,” Lauwers stressed. “And we’ve had a huge decline in the number of family physicians. It’s been very challenging.” This results in substantially delayed care, or for many people, complete lack of care.

That lack of access is something Cindy Snider knows all too well. As the recruitment and retention coordinator and medical education coordinator with the Kawartha Lakes Health Care Initiative (KLHCI), she has spent nearly two decades working to bring doctors to the community. “If every resident of Kawartha Lakes had a local doctor, we would need 66 family physicians,” Snider explains. “Right now, we have 28.” This means a significant number of residents are left without a family doctor, a gap that translates directly into missed diagnoses, unmanaged chronic conditions, and preventable deaths.

Over the years, KLHCI has recruited more than 40 physicians, but retirements, relocations, and career changes have offset those gains.

“When a doctor leaves the area without a succession plan,” Snider says, “there is a void in the community.” Filling those voids is a long game, requiring years of outreach to medical schools, international recruitment

trips, and building relationships with students in rural medicine programs. Snider stresses the importance of starting relationship-building early, often in the first years of residency.

Even then, challenges remain. The biggest ones? Supporting spouses’ careers, convincing young families to settle in a rural area, and showing candidates that Kawartha Lakes offers more than just beautiful scenery. “Retention starts with recruitment,” Snider explains, “because we’re not going to retain them if their family isn’t happy here.”

Behind the numbers are small acts of persistence: welcome packages, community tours, tickets donated by local businesses to show prospective doctors the region’s cultural life. Every site visit costs KLHCI upwards of $1,500, covered by fundraising and in-kind support. “Until we make an announcement, people don’t see the work we’re doing in the background,” Snider says. “But recruitment and retention are what keeps the system from breaking completely.”

The impact of this physician shortage is felt most acutely among older adults. With one of the oldest populations in Ontario, Kawartha Lakes is already grappling with the realities of aging. From rising health needs, to limited housing options and shrinking support systems, seniors’ wellbeing demands attention.

While the research is ongoing, the anecdotal evidence is clear. We need to explore more ways of supporting our seniors so they can live with dignity, connection, and support. Local groups are already stepping up, but the needs are only growing, the funding has yet to arrive, and many of these organizations are already run solely by kindhearted volunteers.

Rosemary McColeman, president of the Fenelon Falls Seniors Centre (a volunteer role), echoes the need for additional doctors in the region. “It’s safe to say that healthcare for seniors is extremely challenging in Kawartha Lakes. They’re losing their family doctor that they had for years, and they’re not necessarily getting replaced.”

Transportation challenges add another layer of isolation and may contribute to delayed access to care. “If they lose their ability to drive their own car and they don’t have a family member or a close friend to help, there is no other transportation,” she explains. “Community Care has a huge wait list for people wanting to use their transportation services but there aren’t enough volunteers to sustain the need. So that’s also becoming a complex problem for seniors.”

But the list of concerns for seniors doesn’t end there. Housing, financial pressures, and personal safety weigh heavily on many older adults. McColeman stresses the importance of having housing specifically designed with

Cindy Snider has spent nearly 20 years trying to bring new doctors to the community. Photo: Sienna Frost.

Rosemary McColeman, president of the Fenelon Falls Senior Centre, says housing for seniors is something policy makers should keep in mind. Photo: Geoff Coleman.

seniors in mind — places where they can feel both secure and supported. “Seniors are looking for places where they feel safe and their needs can be met. And right now, there’s not a lot of this type of housing in Fenelon made available to seniors,” she explains. Alongside these housing concerns is a growing fear of fraud and scams, which can leave seniors feeling exposed and anxious. For many, the idea of sharing space with unfamiliar residents only adds to those worries, heightening the need for senior-focused housing that offers peace of mind.

To address these concerns and improve community amongst the senior population, the Fenelon Falls Seniors Centre (run entirely by volunteers) does what it can. “We’ve conducted at least nine Healthy Aging workshops,” says McColeman, “and all are operating at capacity of 70 attendees.” These events provide seniors with the tools and information they need to improve their wellbeing within the community, but without dedicated staff, the Centre’s reach is limited, despite the urgent need. McColeman emphasized the need for more support and services is critical. “You can have all the beauty surrounding you and advantages of living in Kawartha Lakes, but if you can’t get to these places or are constantly dealing with other issues, you don’t have the peace to enjoy it.”

At the same time, another shift is quietly reshaping the community. Kawartha Lakes, once one of the least diverse regions in the province, has recently seen a significant rise in international immigration. Specifically, within the past two years, approximately 500 newcomers per year are choosing our communities, not as a stopover, but as a place to put down roots. Compared with the previous data of 20 immigrants per year, this is an increase we can’t ignore. The stories of these individuals reveal both the opportunities and the gaps in local services and highlight how giving can help build bridges of belonging.

Geraldine Silva, one of the founders and directors of the Kawartha Lakes and Haliburton Integrated Immigrants Association (KLHIISA) and a local business owner, knows the immigrant experience well. She immigrated to Alberta and recently relocated here in search of a warmer climate, finding both affordability and the rural lifestyle she desired in Kawartha Lakes. “I couldn’t afford living in the GTA,” she explains. “I would have to have four jobs to be able to pay bills in the GTA.”

In her work supporting the local immigrant population — yet another volunteer position — she hears similar stories from others, but not all with positive experiences. The stories she tells are of young people arriving alone from abroad who end up transient and unemployed due to lack of options and perhaps hesitance from those able to offer opportunities. “I’ve seen young girls…their first time travelling outside of their home countries, end up sleeping in three different homes in one month,” she describes. “They are not looking for an apartment. Just a room. A safe room in a safe space.”

What is Vital Signs?

A Community Report Card

Vital Signs is a national program led by Community Foundations of Canada, and locally by Kawartha Community Foundation (KCF), that measures quality of life across 11 key indicators, such as housing, health, environment, safety, and belonging.

Why It Matters for Kawartha Lakes

For the first time, Kawartha Lakes has its own Vital Signs report. The goal is to provide one consistent, trusted report card on community wellbeing that will help inform projects, funding, and strategy.

Why KCF is Investing

KCF has made Vital Signs a priority because it allows all players — the municipality, social service agencies, nonprofits, and residents — to align on the same priorities. Instead of working in silos, the data helps guide everyone toward the biggest opportunities for impact.

A Multi-Year Commitment

Vital Signs isn’t a one-time study. It’s a multi-year research investment that will:

• Establish a baseline “report card” for the community

• Track progress year after year

• Direct philanthropic and municipal investment to areas of greatest need

• Help shift resources and policies where they can make the biggest difference

What’s Next

Fall 2025: Community consultations with seniors and newcomers add lived experience to the data.

February 2026: Final report presented to Council and released to the public shortly afterwards.

Beyond: Annual updates and tracking against goals, creating measurable change over time.

Learning from other regions

Prince Edward County’s decade of data

Prince Edward County has already walked the path Kawartha Lakes is just beginning.

The County Community Foundation published its first Vital Signs report in 2013, and they are now on their tenth. Gillian Armstrong, interim executive director, recalls that early data exposed two major issues: low student graduation rates and limited transportation options.

“Originally, the percentage of students graduating was 74 per cent, and that has now risen to 81.5 per cent,” Armstrong says. “We also now have our own growing public transit system.”

From wake-up call to course correction

Employment is another barrier. “I know of people who’ve applied for 200 jobs. Maybe one or two interviews came out, nothing. Even those with very good working history and even master’s degrees have been applying for all kinds of jobs, any survival job. They cannot get it.”

When asked to describe her experience as an immigrant in Kawartha Lakes, Silva said it has been challenging, “not knowing anyone, not having family.”

Gerladine Silva has taken it upon herself and her fledgling organization to welcome new immigrants, but more help is needed.

Photo: Sienna Frost.

bours. Humanize your neighbours. Don’t look at them like the ‘other.’ Remove the otherness from your mindsets.”

Stories like Silva’s highlight the human realities behind the numbers. They also underscore why local leadership matters. While community groups and volunteers work tirelessly to fill gaps, it takes coordinated action at the municipal level to address the broader trends that are emerging from the Vital Signs research. For the City of Kawartha Lakes, the research will offer a “report card” for how services can be reshaped, partnerships strengthened, and policies refined to meet the needs of residents, both long-standing and newly arrived.

Armstrong admits the first report wasn’t easy for the community to digest. “People were not exactly thrilled even to have it uncovered,” she explains. “Because we live in a beautiful community, people view us as an affluent community. But once you know a problem exists… you can make some course corrections.”

Advice for Kawartha Lakes

Armstrong’s guidance for communities releasing their first report is simple: embrace the starting point. “With Vital Signs, you have to start somewhere,” she says. “This is the first report. But the good news is from there that you’ll continue to have those data points to measure against year after year.”

“My experience of the immigrant story is a little bit of isolation. I see people every day… and I still feel alone. So it’s my reality. And that was one of the main motivations for co-founding this organization.”

KLHIISA offers support for newcomers through literacy and ESL support, employment resources like skills development, interview preparation, and career readiness. Her team of volunteers helps anyone who contacts them without asking questions. From accompanying individuals to house viewings to helping with rental applications, the volunteers are dedicated to making the transition into Kawartha Lakes an easier one.

But without proper funding to support consistent outreach, their ability to provide these services is limited. This doesn’t stop Silva from committing herself to bettering the immigrant experience here, and she urges both employers and residents to also step up. “This is my appeal to employers: consider immigrants. We can coach job seekers, but we need employers to give them a chance. Everybody has to start from somewhere.” And to residents, Silva encourages the community to “get to know your neigh-

“The Vital Signs program hit it out of the park,” says Ron Taylor, CAO of Kawartha Lakes. “It touched so many different areas that we were trying to look at and take all of these complex problems and shrink them down into some discernible measures and strategies.” Taylor says the city will embed the report into its strategic planning cycle to truly personalize municipal services based on the data presented. “What this is really shedding light on is who our customer is and what vulnerable groups need more support. Without Vital Signs, we don’t know specifics,” he explains. “Simply understanding the baseline has pushed us to start shaping our services specifically to those customer needs.”

Taylor emphasized that partnership will be key, noting that the final report — set to be released internally later this year and published in February 2026 — will give the city and community organizations the tools to build more intentional support systems in response to the findings. From a city perspective, the significance of the project lies not only in the data itself but in how it will shape future priorities. His confidence in using these insights to guide municipal decision-making signals a clear commitment: turning numbers into action to create meaningful change for residents.

Jim Armstrong, chair of Kawartha Works Community Co-op (KWCC), helped lead the research process. He stressed that the project is about using data to bring people together.

Community consultations, beginning this fall with seniors and newcomers, are essential for gaining a deeper understanding into the lived experiences of these groups. Because while census data provides broad strokes, it often misses the local context or small but emerging groups. The Kawartha Community Foundation frames it as more than research, but rather a tool for unity. “Our community conversations help deepen the insights,” Dillon-Schalk explains. “Some of the answers are already here. The solutions can be found when we sit down and listen.”

And philanthropy, she adds, is a critical piece of the puzzle. Many people want to give back but aren’t sure where their support can make the most impact. Vital Signs helps direct local giving toward the areas of deepest need, making giving more strategic and connected to the community’s real challenges. Dillon-Schalk points to its recent granting cycle as an example. For the first time, funding decisions are being informed by the data, targeting “where the pockets are, where the opportunities are in the community.” That means investments like those from their Social Sustainability Fund are more strategic and responsive.

Armstrong stresses that this research couldn’t have come at a more critical time. “The city is on the threshold of a lot of growth, so it’s a great time to see where there may be gaps, which issues that need to be addressed, and where there are possibilities where there hasn’t been before.”

Across Kawartha Lakes, the voices are beginning to be heard as the data reflects what residents already feel in their daily lives. Seniors struggling with housing, security, and transportation. Families grieving preventable deaths, still without access to their own doctors. Newcomers seeking community, housing, work, and a sense of belonging. Nonprofits and municipalities dedicated to collaborating more effectively. And that’s just from the initial findings.

As Lauwers says, “You can’t ever solve a problem unless you can shine a light on it.” The first Vital Signs report for Kawartha Lakes aims to be that light. The challenge — and the opportunity — will be what we choose to do with it. LA

Bring the Future of Kawartha Lakes

Sarah Fournier is the new creative director of magazines for The Lindsay Advocate, Kawartha Social, and Play Stay Live. She’s also a Creative Director/Partner at Colour and Code, a marketing, website, and design agency in Lindsay.

Carley Reynolds on living with trauma, getting lost in colours, and the healing power of art

Greek Getaway is a lovely painting, with brilliant colours and uneven lines, evocative of old-world charm and splashes of possibility. I bought it for my home office two months ago from local Bobcaygeon resident and artist Carley Reynolds.

Maybe it reminds me of Leonard Cohen’s years on the Greek island of Hydra. On damp mornings here in Lindsay, when the sun is misplaced behind grey, I have imagined jumping into the painting and having a drink with Cohen – or at least some tea and oranges.

The notion of art as a portal to another world makes me wonder if that’s what Reynolds loves most about her craft. If so, who could blame her? The 33-year-old has had a life marked by trauma. Growing up in Haliburton with two brothers –all three siblings with different fathers – she was raised by a mother who was “an addict and an alcoholic,” according to Reynolds. Her father was not in the picture.

The home was one level with three bedrooms, sitting somewhere on top of the iconic Haliburton lookout. “Just one of those little houses in the bush,” she says.

Graz Restaurant in Bobcaygeon is humming on a late summer Monday as Reynolds retrieves more childhood memories.

Behind the house, there was “nothing but forest” and she would play in the woods with her dog, Fozzy, for hours on end. Closer to home, there was a shed where Fozzy would make like a groundhog, tunnelling under the structure. When she became overwhelmed and stressed out, Reynolds would join Fozzy where it felt like “nobody could get me.”

Reynolds was seven the first time she was sexually assaulted. One day she and her mother were watching Oprah, an episode that happened to be about abuse. While listening to the discussion on TV, the child recognized this had been happening to her – by her mother’s boyfriend – and told her so. Her mother turned off the TV, talked some more with her daughter, and then immediately called the police. It went through the court system, with Reynolds even taking the stand. She says the perpetrator got three months in jail.

Carley Reynolds set up to paint at Big Bob Channel in Bobcaygeon. All photos: Roderick Benns.

Mental health concerns were a constant in the family. Reynold’s cousin was diagnosed as bipolar and ended up committing suicide. And then two months later, her aunt –her mom’s sister – committed suicide because she couldn’t cope with it. Reynolds had barely reached Grade 8 by the time this happened.

It’s time to order lunch and Jordan, our server, takes our twin food order of fish and chips, with a ginger ale for Reynolds and iced tea for me.

We zero in on her brothers, as they didn’t escape the childhood chaos, either. Her eldest sibling, Shawn – eight years her senior – was removed from their mother’s care and placed in a group home.

At around the same age – as if the universe sought some kind of balance – Reynolds got a “big sister” from the Big Brother Big Sisters non-profit. Her name was Janice, a hairdresser from Inglesby.

“She saved me. She showed me that there was more to the world than what I had so far experienced,” says Reynolds. As she grew older, Reynolds found it increasingly difficult to get along with her mother, especially given her mom’s addictions. Shawn had been removed from the home when he was 14, already struggling with addiction and police runins. Similarly, her other brother London was also removed and placed in a group home due to drug use and getting into trouble with the law.Reynolds did not follow her brothers down that path but voluntarily left to escape her family. She found a foster family in Norland that saw her through her high school years with a welcome, positive influence.

“They were amazing. My (foster) dad’s a retired pastor and my (foster) mom’s a retired music teacher.”

Meanwhile, Reynolds’ big sister, Janice, who she affectionately called Sissy, continued to be a light that defied the darkness within Reynolds’ life. A stained-glass artist, a painter, and a hairstylist – the big sister perhaps seeded the future creative endeavours within the impressionable child.

They were supposed to see each other once a week, but Sissy made sure it was at least twice. They would also attend church together. “Sometimes I’d even sleep over at her house a little – we did more than most ‘littles’ and ‘bigs’ were allowed to do, but she bent the rules.”

Over the years, it gnawed at Reynolds that she knew nothing of her father.

Her mother was afraid of her dad, “so she wouldn’t even let me know his name. Every birthday, every Christmas, I just wanted my dad, and she hated that.”

Convincing her mom of this was futile, but Reynolds would soon have other concerns.

Sissy, who had become “my light in a very dark spot” was diagnosed with liver cancer. Knowing she didn’t have much time, the big sister made the little sister one promise – to find out the identity of Reynolds’ father. In the end, she did so by appealing directly to her mother as a dying wish for this information – and it worked.

Reynolds, in Grade 10 at this point, was then able to locate her father’s sister – and learned her dad had been looking for her for years, too. However, he had just died seven months earlier of cirrhosis of the liver. There would be no closure on this issue for Reynolds.

Months later, Sissy would die from cancer, too.

But the wrenching news didn’t stop there for Reynolds during this time in her life. About two weeks before Reynolds started Grade 12, her brother, London, overdosed on drugs. He died in hospital in front of her. Her mother was in no emotional shape to do anything at that time and so the teenager found herself being the main point of contact for the funeral home, taking care of arrangements.

“Those high school years were really rough. I lost a lot of people.”

Despite all her childhood setbacks – and with the support of the Children’s Aid Society system – Reynolds graduated from high school and enrolled in Travel and Tourism at Georgian College in Barrie.

A couple years later she added a short private investigating course to her CV and did work in this field for about a year.

“I just found it hard to sit in a car that long,” she says with a laugh, referring to the unglamorous aspects of the job. “I wanted to do the undercover work, but I got stuck doing surveillance.”

Greek Getaway, painted by Carley Reynolds.

Later, in her mid-20s, she started dating someone in the automotive industry and ended up getting involved in car work herself. However, her relationship soured and she felt compelled to flee to a friend’s place in Halifax, her first time on Canada’s east coast.

She found a job at Honda and celebrated her 28th birthday out there – and then COVID hit. “So I was sitting with no money in a basement by myself. I was just in a scared state” with the pandemic adding to her anxiety.

When she got herself back to Ontario about a year later, she found yet another automotive job. While things were good for awhile, she realized a co-worker had been taking her clients in what was commission-based work. No support was forthcoming from her boss which added even more stress.

“I went into work on a Thursday, not thinking anything of it consciously, and then had a complete mental breakdown. I never returned again.”

She was 30 years old.

Reynolds says it was more than not feeling supported at work. It felt like she could no longer stave off all the trauma of her earlier years. It was like an unrelenting wave that she had held at bay for so long – one that would finally arrive to beach her entire life and force her to reckon with everything, all at once: The darkness of her childhood; the lack of a father; each fallen loved one; several sexual assaults from childhood through to her 20s; and not feeling supported at her job.

“Everything just collapsed on me.”

She became homeless for five months, living in a tent with her two dogs on her foster sister’s property.

Reynolds was diagnosed with Complex Post-Traumatic Stress Disorder (CPTSD), anxiety, depression, and panic attacks. (CPTSD is a mental health condition that can develop after prolonged or repeated exposure to traumatic events.)

She got help, thanks in large part to the Canadian Mental Health Association (CMHA). They had an opening in Harrison House in Lindsay, a transitional, eight-bed, co-ed rehabilitative housing program for people with a diagnosed mental illness. The program helps people build life skills for independence and focuses on supporting mental health recovery in a goal-oriented way.

“I stayed for a year and a half, where you live with up to eight other people who are going through mental health or addiction issues.”

There were many programs to take part in at Harrison House. One night, it happened to be a paint night tutorial.

“That’s how I discovered I had an ability to paint.”

She continued to study YouTube tutorials on painting and found everything came naturally to her. Now, she has her own following on a streaming platform called Twitch and on Instagram. She’s learning to use TikTok.

“I’ve just been learning and painting, and it’s been an incredible journey.”

She thinks back to her more challenging younger adult years and the societal pressure then to know what she was supposed to do with the rest of her life.

She became homeless for five months, living in a tent with her two dogs on her foster sister’s property.

“I was in a mindset where I just want to survive, right? You want me to figure out what I want to do for the rest of my life? No man, I just want to wake up tomorrow morning and be okay.”

In 2024 she was able to move to Bobcaygeon, a village she has come to love. And she still has an “amazing connection” with her foster family, which helps ground her.

Reynolds feels a certain level of validation to be where she is right now in her life.

“I grew up in a crappy environment. Everybody that I grew up with has (unplanned) kids, is dead, or on the system. I mean, I know I’m struggling right now too, but I’m trying every day. Every day is great, yeah?”

Reynolds has three small dogs – maltese – who act as her emotional support animals and who keep her going with a regular routine. Bellatrix, Mojo, and Felix are a family unit – a mom, dad and baby – and each morning she appreciates the routine they create.

“There are dogs to walk, there’s coffee to make, and then I’ve got to get streaming on Twitch,” she says, where she reaches about 60-plus followers (so far) who want to watch her paint,

Artist Carley Reynolds loves her little red wagon for painting en plein air.

talk about her life, and share music and books. Mostly, they’re there for the journey. Reynolds uses the name Peace by Piece to describe her art business. (On Instagram it’s peacebypiecewithcarl.)

“I get to show the world how art can change your life.”

There is darkness she foresees on the horizon. She believes one day she will have to deal with her mother overdosing, just as she had to go through this with her brother, London.

“My mom’s done the best she could with what she’s had, which wasn’t much. As much as we’re talking about the trauma that I went through, she’s gone through it too, and she’s not had the support that I have had to be able to cope.”

Reynolds describes her mom’s parents as alcoholic and abusive, the sort of generational trauma that ensnares so many.

On a sunnier note, she has reconnected with her brother, Shawn. While he lives out west, he has taken the time to visit with Reynolds, even staying with her for a short time this past summer. She says he has been sober for two years and is doing well.

“I’m very proud of him.”

She also has five foster sisters with whom she is close.

Jordan, our server, clears our plates and tells us to take our time.

Reynolds says she is realistic while also hopeful. “It sucks, you know, all the losses. But it’s also about appreciating what I do have here and the people in my life – which is really scary, because ultimately you could lose them. Loving people is hard.”

One day she plans on volunteering for Big Brothers Big Sisters, in recognition of what Sissy meant to her on her own journey. “I just need to stabilize a bit more,” she says, injecting learned caution into her life plans.

And she knows there are reasons to be thankful.

“Now I look at myself and I’m like, you know, you’ve come a long way.”

In the meantime, she will continue to lose herself in her painting. Or is it find herself? That’s what I decide to ask her as a parting question.

She takes a couple beats to answer.

“It feels like both. Sometimes I lose myself in my paintings when I just don’t want to come out of it. I’m stuck in my colours and the way they’re making me feel” with each brushstroke.

“It’s over a longer duration of time, I’m realizing, that you find out who you are.”

Carley Reynolds livestreams her paint sessions to her followers.

Level One: Rights and Obligations

» September 3-17 (Virtual)

Mental Health 101, Mindfulness & Challenges in Life & Self Care

» September 19 (In-person)

» October 28 (Virtual)

Level Two: Benefits and Services

» October 9-23 (Virtual)

Psychological Health & Safety and Return to Work (In-person)

» September 28 – October 3

Return to Work 101

» December 2 (Virtual)

Principles of Accommodation Law

» December 3 (Virtual)

Donate Today

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No contribution is too small. Together we can give everyone in our community the chance to thrive!

BUSINESS Today

Ulys Sorok, inset and below holding a robotic ant prototype.

How GRAM’s insectoid robots could reshape the future FORMER LINDSAY MAN LOOKS TO CREATE ANT ARMIES TO HELP HUMANITY BUILD

By Robyn Best

Ulys Sorok has always been interested in technology. The now 22-year-old spent his pivotal high school years between the ages of 14-18 in Lindsay, a place he thinks of as his hometown. He would spend hours hanging around Kawartha Lakes Municipal Airport, talking to people and looking up at the stars. “I would find myself in a ranch a couple of miles north just testing and toying around with electronics and fixing machines, or building and blowing up munitions,” he said.

After attending I.E Weldon, Sorok spent some time working at different businesses learning more about what technology could make possible. “That brought me to my life’s mission of making humanity galactic,” Sorok said, underscoring his belief that space could become a new frontier for humankind.

During this time, he was able to learn more about self-replication technology –machines that can build everything, including themselves. “My (self-imposed) mandate was to understand why humanity hasn’t birthed this technology yet, and what challenges were behind barring its creation.”

Now he’s based in El Segundo, California and has founded the Galactic Resource Advanced Mechanism Technologies company, GRAM. “You’re seeing this movement of super young kids with crazy ideas that are building crazy technologies in this small part of the

world. I don’t think I would’ve gained an appreciation for what this represented had I not come from a town like Lindsay,” Sorok said.

GRAM is working on building robotic insectoids. They’re autonomous sixlegged machines that look like large mechanical ants. “The goal is to create a deflationary effect on this cost of capable labour by having our robots be deployed into our own supply chains to help build more robots,” he said.

While everything is in the early stages right now, Sorok says once completed the robots will be primarily good at three things.

“It can climb up surfaces like an actual insect might,” he said. Right now, the prototypes are able to climb up steel, with the end goal of all materials being climbable. Sorok choose to start testing their ability with steel by thinking back to the grain silos and the metal bridges of the Trent Severn Waterway. The insectoids will also be able to use its front two limbs for handling tools and objects, much like a praying mantis would, he said. Finally, “they’ll work really well together, kind of like a colony of ants,” he said. The end product will be robots that not only build more of themselves but will also be beneficial in welding and construction.

He looks back to those days of experimenting and blowing things up as well as the quieter moments. “I spent a lot of time tending to my mother’s garden. There’s a lot of physical labour involved,” he says, and he sees his work now as growing a new kind of life. While he’s living in the big city now, Lindsay stays in his heart, and he hopes that the youth from the area today will feel the same way if they search for new horizons. “The future is not something that just happens to you. It’s something you build. Never think that coming from a (small) town…is a disadvantage in any way, shape, or form,” Sorok said. His younger brothers, Neo Sorok and Harsh Gadkari still live in Lindsay. They spent part of this past summer working with Sorok on the prototypes of his robots. It makes him excited for new innovations that will come out of Lindsay.

“(My brothers) are bringing together a group of young teens who are excited about STEM and they want to build something cool, but more importantly something useful,” he said with plans to sponsor some of the projects they want to tackle.

He encourages everyone to get involved in their community in any way they can. Whether it’s getting involved in local issues or simply knocking on a neighbour’s door to see if they need any help.

Sorok is optimistic about what GRAM will do. “Right now, we’re building a team. We’ve established a core team of some of the world’s best scientists, researchers and engineers.” At the same time, he’s also trying to stay grounded until the robots are finished. “It’s not a big deal until it’s a big deal.” LA

As for what the future holds, Sorok clearly is aiming high, but he promises to not forget where he came from. “My hope is to give back as much as I can to the town that has given me everything. I will.”

‘QUIETLY INCREDIBLE’

Kawartha Lakes Tourism reveals new branding

Kawartha Lakes Tourism has unveiled a new brand aimed at drawing more visitors by highlighting the city’s small-town charm and natural beauty.

Laurie McCarthy, tourism development officer for Kawartha Lakes, said the new brand –called Kawartha Lakes, Quietly Incredible – speaks to visitors in a way that captures the region’s spirit and what it offers visitors.

“(The new brand) was created to help us stand out in an increasingly competitive tourism market, and (it) aligns with industry best practices, where distinct tourism branding is key to successful destination marketing,” she told the Advocate. McCarthy added the new brand, which coincides with the city’s refreshed tourism website, ExploreKawarthaLakes.com, is strongly focused on “attracting and inspiring visitors.”

“It’s built around what makes Kawartha Lakes truly unique and special in the eyes of travellers,” she said.

To create the new brand, the city partnered with tourism marketing agency The New Business (TNB) to research who visits Kawartha Lakes, what

By Deron Hamel

travellers want in a getaway and which local attractions resonate most.

Beginning in January, TNB gathered insights through one-on-one interviews, online surveys and a focus group. More than 300 stakeholders, including residents, cottagers, tourism organizations and visitors, participated.

The region’s natural beauty, small-town charm, and opportunities for outdoor adventure and relaxation were identified as key selling points, McCarthy said.

“By focusing on these strengths, the new brand helps us tell a more compelling, visitor-focused story about Kawartha Lakes –one that positions us competitively in the tourism industry and connects authentically with the experiences our guests are seeking,” she said.

“The new branding aims to capture the everyday magic that makes Kawartha Lakes quietly incredible.”

Research also showed most visitors come to Kawartha Lakes for outdoor experiences, food and drink, and sightseeing – often for short stays or day trips, McCarthy said.

Many visitors are from the GTA and cited social media and word-of-mouth informa tion as their key sources for travel ideas, she added.

From businesses tied to local tourism, the city learned that many people see Kawar tha Lakes as an affordable alternative to Muskoka, with the Trent-Severn Water way, local charm and easy access to nature among the top selling points.

Some of the challenges identified in the research – and targeted by the new brand ing – included low destination awareness, fragmented marketing and limited tour ism partnerships.

“Stakeholders strongly supported the need for a distinct, traveller-focused tourism brand – one that tells our story more effectively, strengthens digital promotions and supports year-round tourism,” McCarthy said.

“The input we received was foundational in shaping the new brand and guiding how we’ll share the quietly incredible experiences Kawartha Lakes has to offer.”

McCarthy said the new brand will be supported by a two-year marketing plan focused on introducing it to the public and positioning Kawartha Lakes as a top-tier destination. The plan features targeted campaigns, digital marketing initiatives and strategic partnerships aimed at building awareness and attracting visitors.

Key performance indicators, such as increases in website traffic, social media engagement, visitor inquiries and overall visitation, will be tracked, McCarthy added.

“We’ll know the rebranding is successful when we see measurable growth in awareness, engagement and visitation –both online and on the ground,” she said.

The new tourism brand uses organic shapes to capture the region’s natural beauty and highlight Kawartha Lakes’ small-town charm.

KENT PLACE MALL GETS A FRESH NEW LOOK

By Robyn Best

Kent Place Mall has recently undergone renovations to bring a fresh new look to the building that has been open since 1979.

“When you design a commercial space, even the smallest de tail is purposeful,” said Wesley Found, president of Linbor ough Property Corp which manages the mall. “It has to do with the flow, the cleanliness, the upkeep, potential damage when it’s a public space.”

Where carpet once stood is now tiled floor in the atrium of the building, new LED lights go along the wall and even the trash cans are new. All of this was done to create a more pro fessional look.

“It’s gravitating more towards the condo style business mod el, where you aren’t only providing four walls, but you’re providing community and amenities for that community,” Found said.

Now the atrium can be rented out alongside a pop-up kiosk. Found hopes it will draw the community in.

The mall also has new digital directory boards. “They’re navi gable touch screens and they have the ability to advertise on them as well.”

Found said that customers and tenants are liking the reinvigorated space. “They want it to (be) reflective of the professionalism they’re trying to convey.”

Small Town BIG dreams

Wesley Found, owner of Kent Place Mall.

Photo: Robyn Best.

Ron Taylor CAO

Doug Elmslie mayor

Hosted by The Lindsay Advocate and Kindred.

Moderated by Advocate Publisher Roderick Benns and Kindred Co ee Bar Co-owner Dara Bergeron

Arrive early to purchase a beverage or snack if desired.

Roderick Benns Dara Bergeron

Intentional community change

By Sarah Fournier Contributor

Early last month, I had the opportunity to restore a 1930s stained glass door from the Beach neighbourhood in Toronto that was in bad shape and in need of serious love and attention. The piece — comprised mostly of custom bevels — had slumped in its frame over time, glass cracked and bowed, with full sections of lead missing. Screws had been drilled right through the lead in a desperate attempt to hold it together, with tape and metal bars piled on over the years. The effect was less “craftsmanship” and more “patch job.”

The only way forward was to take it apart completely. We dismantled it piece by piece, cleaned the original glass, cut new pieces where needed, matching the original glass as closely as possible, and then re-leaded, soldered, and cemented the entire door before carefully reinstalling it. Because it had to fit back into the same wood frame, precision was everything. We relied heavily on the measurements and cartoon patterns we took before disassembling. The moment we dry fit it back into place and saw that it lined up perfectly was deeply satisfying, as it was proof that the long, painstaking process and attention to detail had been worth it.

This project was a joy for another reason, too: I worked on it alongside my mentor, Bonnie Thomson. Restoration is a unique and somewhat dying art in a world where it’s often easier to throw things away and buy new. Doing it together meant we could share ideas, learn from each other, and enjoy the process as much as the finished result. It reminded me that true restoration rarely happens in isolation.

The door itself told a story. Over the decades, people had done what they could to keep it intact. Tape here, screws there, reinforcement bars everywhere. Each effort may have bought a little time, but the structure was still failing. Only when we took it apart fully, addressed each broken piece, and carefully rebuilt it could it return to its former strength and beauty.

Each effort may have bought a little time, but the structure was still failing. Only when we took it apart fully, addressed each broken piece, and carefully rebuilt it could it return to its former strength and beauty.

That lesson applies far beyond stained glass. In this month’s Advocate, the Vital Signs research highlights areas in Kawartha Lakes that need attention: healthcare, seniors, immigrants, and eight other categories. Like the door, some of our systems have been held together with patches and quick fixes. But real change — the kind that lasts — requires us to take things apart, examine them honestly, and rebuild them with intention.

Restoration is never quick. It takes patience, collaboration, and precision. But when it’s done well, what’s rebuilt can carry history forward while also being strong enough for the future. That’s true of doors, and it’s true of communities. When we rebuild together with intention, we create something stronger, more useful, and built to last.

Follow Sarah’s glass adventures at @sarah_behind.the.glass

Family Birdwatching Adventures with Kawartha Lakes Library

Join us at the library for two special presentations with Bird Friendly Kawartha Lakes featuring hands-on activities and fun for the whole family.

Citizen Science FeederWatch – Family Workshop

Build a bird feeder and learn how your family can become Citizen Scientists! Discover how to identify birds using the Merlin Bird ID app and eBird, and see how your sightings contribute to real research. You will also discover exciting programs, such as Project FeederWatch and the Great Backyard Bird Count. This is a free, family-friendly workshop.

Bobcaygeon Branch: Saturday, October 4, 2025 11:00 am – 12:00 pm

Lindsay Branch: Saturday, October 18, 2025 1:00 pm – 2:00 pm

Beyond the workshop, continue your birding adventures. Borrow items from our Library of Things, including:

Join us at the Gallery for the return of Crazy Creative, starting Saturday, October 4! Same great location –you won’t want to miss it!

A fun + FREE drop in program for ages 7-13! Every Saturday from 11am-12:30pm

Bird Watching Kit: Everything you need to spot birds at your feeder or in the wild.

Hiking Poles: Lightweight and adjustable poles are great for exploring local trails.

Kids’ Adventure Kit: A hands-on kit for oudoor play, bugfinding, and bird spotting.

Don’t forget our Community Passes:

Ken Reid Conservation Area Pass: Free parking for one vehicle to explore their trails.

Ontario Parks Pass: Free day use for one vehicle and its occupants at provincial parks across Ontario.

about these programs and resources.

By Joan Corrigan, Fun & Done Crosswords

FRI. OCT. 10 - BOOS & BREWS HAUNTED CORN MAZE & LIVE MUSIC WITH “WREN MEN”

FRI. OCT. 17 - BOOS & BREWS HAUNTED CORN MAZE & LIVE MUSIC WITH “WREN MEN”

FRI. OCT. 24 - HALLOWQUEEN 19+ DRAG SHOW

FRI. OCT. 24 - BOOS & BREWS HAUNTED CORN MAZE & LIVE MUSIC WITH “MIS-HAP”

SAT. OCT. 25 - THRILLER 19+ DANCE PARTY

WED. OCT. 29 - DINNER & MOVIE: SILENCE OF THE LAMBS

THURS. OCT. 30 - HALLOWEEN TRIVIA WITH JUSTINE

FRI. OCT. 31 - BOOS & BREWS HAUNTED CORN MAZE & LIVE MUSIC WITH “TREBLEMAKERS”

This is climate breakdown

Our own Snowmaggedon in January. A major ice storm in March. Flood warnings in April. Smoky air from western wildfires. Unprecedented sizzling heat. Drought conditions. Low water level warnings. Four area wildfires in August. Climate disruption is not some distant concern for future generations, or something inundating small island nations. It’s in our backyard now.

To quote Al Gore, watching the news “is like taking a hike through the Book of Revelations.”

Researchers have been raising the alarm for decades. When my daughter was born 30 years ago, the second global climate report said “projections … confirm the potential for human activities to alter the Earth’s climate to an extent unprecedented in human history.”

Nothing like meeting your potential.

By mid-July, Canada’s wildfire season was already declared the second-worst on record.

More than 70 per cent of Canada was “abnormally dry,” according to John Pomeroy, director of the Global Water Futures Program in Saskatchewan. Locally we were asked to cut water consumption by 20 per cent and we were under a total outdoor fire ban for weeks. And we were battling our own wildfires.

We’re part of a world that saw alarming record temperature levels on land and in the oceans last year. That heat is not just killing people, crops, livestock, and wildlife, but also fish and coral reefs that provide habitat to a quarter of the world’s marine life. It’s melting glaciers and polar ice caps – the earth’s air conditioners. We’re seeing less ice cover on the Great Lakes, meaning more shoreline erosion. It’s a fundamental disaster on many levels. And it’s only going to get worse, thanks to the rapid increase in heat-trapping C02 emissions, which is also making storms more severe and widespread, Pomeroy told CBC recently.

That’s heavy. But I’ve decided I’m an apocalyptic optimist. We’re folks who believe we can still reduce future devastation by rapidly winding down our dependence on fossil fuels – coal, gas, oil, natural gas. We no longer have time for incrementalism. Burning the stuff is trapping the excess heat and hurting us now.

Amidst it all there is good news. Last year 40 per cent of global electricity came from clean sources like wind, solar, and hydro. That was up from 31 per cent just one year earlier.

This summer, the World Court ruled that countries are obligated to prevent harm to the climate or be held liable for damages. And shortly after, a South African court blocked an offshore oil and gas exploration project because it did not consider the project’s long-term impact on the climate.

For our part we can prod the federal government to make sure its new national energy corridor focuses on clean energy.

We can demand they hold firm to that zero-emission vehicle mandate that would see all new light-duty vehicles sold in 2035 be electric or plug-in hybrid. We need to stop arguing that we can’t meet that deadline. Let’s discuss how we can.

Provincially, we need to push for more renewable energy and a moratorium on natural gas expansion. Locally, it’s important to support all of the above. And individually, we can all do what we can to reduce fossil fuel pollution.

Climate devastation has hit our home. We need to protect it. Join with others to write those letters, make those calls, show up for those rallies. This is everyone’s fight now.

Ginny Colling was passionate about the environment before retiring from teaching college communications students. After retiring she trained with Al Gore’s Climate Reality Project. She has presented to numerous groups about the climate crisis.

Resplendent in red: The story of Lindsay’s American LaFrance fire engine

Night owls in the Reaboro area might have known something was up when they gazed through their windows around 11:30 p.m. on Monday April 5, 1954. Clattering down the dirt road in front of them was a flamboyant-looking fire engine with a pair of huge headlights cutting through the inky darkness. The driver opened up its throttle, giving the truck all the power its ancient six cylinder engine could muster as it turned into the lane of Kenneth Reid’s farm. Reid’s barn and hen house were on fire, and half a dozen firefighters had been dispatched from Lindsay to quell the flames.

As the fire brigade quickly and efficiently ran two lengths of hose to a nearby creek and hooked them up to the truck, nosy neighbours who may have gathered to watch might have scratched their heads in puzzlement. Why was a 25-year-old vehicle being sent out into the countryside when surely newer, faster, and more efficient equipment could do the job?

Back in Lindsay, local politicians would soon be peppering the fire chief with questions about why this particular truck was being driven into the depths of Ops Township when its reliability had already been called into question. Indeed, the previous June, a local alderman had informed Lindsay’s council that, while pumping water for a structural fire on Kent Street, the truck “almost shook itself to pieces in front of the Olympia, shooting oil all over the place.”

From being an object of scorn some seven decades ago to leading local parades in our own time, the 1929 American LaFrance pumper truck that was purchased by the Town of Lindsay 95 years ago has had quite a life. Top-of-the-line in firefighting technology when it arrived on the scene, it later became a symbol of pre-amalgamation politics and is now one of Lindsay’s most recognizable icons.

The LaFrance wasn’t Lindsay’s first piece of firefighting equipment. In 1861, not long after a devastating fire consumed much of Kent Street, the town purchased a horsedrawn pumping engine from the William Perry firm, of Montreal. Though a new fire hall opened in 1901, horsedrawn fire apparatus would remain the norm in Lindsay well into the 1920s.

But this would soon change. As early as 1927, representatives of American LaFrance were making presentations to council about the merits of their company’s products. Not until Oct. 17, 1929, though, would local citizens and their elected representatives have an opportunity to see a new truck in action. “In one test, four streams [of water] were thrown, the total discharge being 1330 gallons per minute and the streams were strong enough to go over any building on Kent Street,” noted the Lindsay Daily Post admiringly in its reportage the following day.

American LaFrance had won council over, and a purchase was formally ratified on Jan. 21, 1930. Assistant Fire Chief Ross McArthur drove the new truck – which cost a little more than $15,000 – from Toronto to Lindsay over the

The LaFrance as it appeared around 1983, awaiting restoration. At this time it was still lettered for the Bancroft fire department. Courtesy The Lindsay Firefighters Association.

to provide Lindsay with a grant to cover the costs of taking the truck to out-of-town calls. This prompted the town council to charge a flat rate of $200 for every time the LaFrance was required for these occasions.

By the second half of the 1950s, the LaFrance – now joined by other trucks – was starting to show its age, and concerns were raised about what might happen should a fire occur while it was out of commission (as indeed it was for five weeks in 1953, when laid up for repairs). On April 8, 1958, a young boy drowned in the flooded underpass at the Lindsay fairgrounds, and the LaFrance was summoned to pump out the water. This would be one of the final calls for the old fire engine. That autumn, it was sold to the town of Maynooth for use at its fire department.

The 1929 American LaFrance fire engine has been leading local parades for more than three decades. Courtesy Lindsay Santa Claus Parade. LA

course of two days, navigating bad roads with apparently little trouble. With the word “Lindsay” emblazoned across its scarlet hood and its nickel trim all polished up, it was ready for action – but not before being proudly displayed in the Victoria Park Armoury for the Picadilly Circus (a fundraising event organized by the Kiwanis Club) later that month.

For the next 28 years, the “LaFrance Foamite” (as this particular truck was branded) served as Lindsay’s principal piece of firefighting equipment. It was summoned to fires not only in Lindsay, but also farther afield, including Kinmount and Sunderland – a practice that came to symbolize the challenges of sharing wealth and responsibility between the Town of Lindsay and the surrounding townships. As early as 1931, the Victoria County Council refused

Although the Lions Club in Maynooth had purchased the truck, it soon discovered that the community was unable to store it properly. The truck became something of an embarrassment, and was sent back to Lindsay, which refused to accept it. As of 1963, the LaFrance was on the roster of Bancroft’s fire department, and a decade later it was acquired by a Brockville antique dealer. That’s where the late Ray Procter, a Lindsay firefighter, unearthed it in 1983 and facilitated a ground-up restoration.

Since then, the dazzling old LaFrance pumper has heralded the start of almost every Lindsay parade – while simultaneously raising awareness about fire prevention.

Divison of Clarke Parts and Equipment Sales Inc.

Getting ready for giving

By Trevor Hutchinson Contributing Editor

It’s about to be that time when we will be increasingly asked to help support any one of the many local charities and good causes.

While most charities are small, together they add up to a significant portion of our social safety net. Nationally, charities deliver more than $240 billion of services a year. More than 40 per cent of that total comes from provincial and territorial governments which means that charities are not just some extra service, they are sometimes the conduit for government funding. In effect, charities are part of our social contract: how we choose to help and support each other. But to execute their missions, charities must compete for our attention and dollars.

As the Giving Report summarizes, “the future of giving might be local.” This trend might be good news for many local charities. And with the creation of the Kawartha Community Foundation, we can give locally in more ways.

And they must do this in a volatile environment: declining participation by Canadians; fewer donors (due in part to economic uncertainty); changing government priorities; and in most cases, increased demand for services. The Canada Helps 2025 Giving Report outlines some interesting major trends in the charitable sector: charities with strong digital infrastructure are doing well; there is a need to grow donor bases; monthly giving and special events like Giving Tuesday are growing and Canadians are increasingly donating to charities and causes in their community.

As the Giving Report summarizes, “the future of giving might be local.” This trend might be good news for many local charities. And with the creation of the Kawartha Community Foundation, we can give locally in more ways. The majority of charitable giving happens in November and December, but October is certainly a busy month for good causes locally. On Oct. 2 alone the RMH foundation has a Thankful Hearts Walkathon, Five Counties Children’s Centre has their “Couture for Kids” event and the biggest charity in the area, the United Way HKL, has their annual Campaign Launch Oct. 2. The CIBC sponsored Run for the Cure happens Oct. 5 and A Place Called Home has a 30th anniversary event in recognition of World Homeless Day on the 10th. Fenelon Falls Turkey Trot, in support of Women’s Resources (literally) runs the 11th and the Royal Canadian Legion will begin its annual poppy campaign later in the month leading up to Remembrance Day. All of these are on top of the constant need for donations to organizations like Kawartha Lakes Food Source and the Humane Society of Kawartha Lakes, to name just a couple.

So whatever our motivation, be it personal or family experience, a cause you like to support, or if you just want to pay it forward, we are coming upon the giving season. Your gifts, be they big or small, are very much needed. If I overlooked an event in October, I apologize. Make sure to contact our sister publication Kawartha Lakes Weekly. And to all who are able to give or work or volunteer, thank you. You make our community a better place to live.

the M A R K E T P L A C E

Collector Car & Truck Appraisals

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WANTED FOR RENT

Furniture, signs, jewellery, watches, coins, china, military items, paintings, records, books, old metal toys, wood decoys, snow shoes, paddles & more. Wanted Antiques Bob Carruth 705-887-1672

For Rent - 1 and 2 bed units from $1,800 & up Heat, hydro & water is included Adult building in Lindsay Call 705-324-9381

LAWN CARE

OBITUARIES

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SUPPORT LOCAL JOURNALISM

We Buy Vintage... Vinyl Records, Comics, Jewellery, Glass, China, Pottery, Toys, Sports & Collectibles. We Make House Calls. Cash Paid. Robert & Penny 705-324-2699 howlingdog rocks

Classic & Vintage Cars & Trucks Call Mark 613-360-2699

Burns’ Snow Removal & Lawn Care Ltd. Grass cutting, fertilizing, trimming, organic topsoil & fall cleanup Snow contracts available. Commercial & Residential Fully insured. Call David E. Burns 705-324-8154

McKenzie’s offers all aspects of outdoor maintenance interlock lift and re level fencing gutter cleaning lawncare snow removal 705-934-4333 Free estimates

David L Valentine age 89 years passed peacefully on September 3, 2025. Beloved husband of the late Carole Valentine (2024). Predeceased by brothers Bill and Peter. Survived and lovingly remembered by his children Meaghan (Tim); Tavis and Andrew; grandsons Jaiden and Jackson; inlaws, nieces, nephews and friends from around the world.

As per David’s request cremation has taken place and there will be no funeral or celebration of life. If desired a donation to Buffalo Toronto Public Media (PBS/NPR), Carpenter Hospice, Southern Ontario Sheltie Rescue or another charity of your choice in David’s memory would be sincerely appreciated.

Fences, Gates, Railings & Verandas

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OBITUARIES

Larry Gordon Robinson

Our family is saddened to share the news that Larry Robinson passed away suddenly on August 28, 2025, at the Peterborough Regional Health Center at the age of 66. He was born in Toronto but resided in Cameron Ontario for most of his life. Left to mourn are his father, William Bruce, his sister, Laurie (Wayne Brakeboer), his brothers, Dave (Sandra), and Bill (Tara), predeceased by his mother Dorothy (2025) and his wife, Dawn (2023). He will always lovingly be remembered by his daughter, Anna Robinson, and his grandchildren, Brianna and Lincoln. Loved and greatly missed by his nephews and niece as well as his extended family and many friends. Larry was most recently the owner of Larry Robinson Marine after working alongside his parents at Robinson Marine for almost 40 years prior to that. His depth of knowledge and care of his customers was well known. Larry was a caring man who would be there for you no matter what. He loved working in the Marine industry, fishing, boating, and showing off his prized classic cars and telling jokes. He held close all the relationships he developed with customers, suppliers, dealerships, and mechanics over the years. A celebration of life will be held at a future date so we can all come together and share the many wonderful stories of a life well lived. Donations can be made to Keep Canada Fishing or the Ross Memorial Hospital Foundation.

ALEXIS, NICHOLAS & JUDE WRIGHT moved to Kawartha Lakes from Oshawa in October 2024.

Lindsay Advocate: Why did you choose to move here?

THE WRIGHTS: Kawartha Lakes provided amazing opportunities for us as a young family to get away from the hustle and bustle of a busy city. We searched for a family-friendly community that would accommodate our budget-conscious needs, while providing a pace of life that is suitable for us while raising children and building our careers.

Lindsay Advocate: What is your favourite thing about Kawartha Lakes so far?

THE WRIGHTS: There are numerous parks in Kawartha Lakes to explore. We have many options to take our son for endless fun or to enjoy a nature walk. A big hit for our family is Ken Reid Conversation Area, especially the Christmas event where the trails are lit up with Christmas lights. The Lindsay Recreation Centre for swimming, the public libraries, and Lindsay Gymnastics Centre are also valued.

Are you new in town? If you moved to Kawartha Lakes within the past two years and want to be featured here, email us at info@lindsayadvocate.ca.

Lindsay Advocate: What are your favourite local restaurants or shops?

THE WRIGHTS: One Eye Jacks in town to meet with friends or have a family night for any meal. A hidden gem we love as a family is Queen’s Bistro – a family friendly restaurant with lots of options for quality food at affordable prices. Kindred, to meet new moms and their babies. And a special shout out to Olympia – a fabulous Greek restaurant.

Lindsay Advocate: What do you think is missing from Kawartha Lakes?

THE WRIGHTS: We would love to see additional events geared towards families, particularly with young kids.

Lindsay Advocate: How were you involved in your previous community and how might you like to get involved in Kawartha Lakes?

THE WRIGHTS: In Oshawa, we were heavily involved in our local church serving in and around our community in various outreach events. In Kawartha Lakes, we are settling down at Fairview Baptist Church and trying to find ways to connect locally in family-friendly events or give back to the youth or young adult students and professionals.

REAL ESTATE UPDATE

THIRD QUARTER 2025 Author

705.928.5604

Office 705.328.3800

birdhouserealty.ca

While real estate isn’t directly tied to the trade war, the ripple effects of Canada’s broader economic slowdown are impossible to ignore.

Within that slowdown, Toronto’s negative housing market — one of the sharpest among Canada’s major cities — is having a direct impact on activity here in Kawartha Lakes.

“Toronto is in the deepest buyers market since 1991” - Kari Norman, Economist, Desjardins

Buyer Hesitancy

Buyers today have more options and feel less motivated to act.

Canada’s population growth at 0.0% so far this year: StatsCan - CBC

Whether it’s trade tensions, recession fears, rising unemployment, recordhigh housing inventory, or costly mortgage renewals, Canadians aren’t feeling much incentive to move.

“We are in a per capita recession in Canada and we might be in a technical recession”Benjamin Tal, Deputy Chief Economist, CIBC

Those willing to move typically have built notable equity, adjusted beyond 2022 price expectations, and feel more confident about selling without the same level of concern over securing a new home. Alongside them, first-time buyers — free from the need to sell — are keeping activity alive.

Canadian economy shrinks 1.6% in 2nd quarter - Jenna Benchetrit, CBC News

Sellers Make the First Offer

A common misconception is that a buyer brings the first offer. In truth, a seller’s listing price is the first offer to the market.

In August, Kawartha Lakes had over 700 active listings. From experience, that often means 20–40 competing properties within a given price point or property type.

Ontario has lost almost 120k residents to other provinces in the past five years - Desjardins Economic Studies, StatsCan

In such an overcrowded market — especially with little economic or population growth — setting a listing price that draws buyers to the table is more crucial than in years past.

“The unemployment rate in August (7.1%) was the highest since May 2016 (excluding 2020 and 2021).” - StatsCan