A Taste of the Kawarthas Spring/Summer 2021

Spring/Summer 2021

FOOD, SHOPPING & CULTURAL EXPERIENCE

A Taste of the KAWARTHAS Kortney Wilson Masters of Flip Making It Home Chefs

Monica Silva Fresh Dreams

Googlyness!

It’s Everywhere

Chocolatiers

Millbrook Valley Chocolate

Drew’s Chicks

Rent-A-Chick

Memory Loss

What to Do?

FREE PUBLICATION - PLEASE TAKE ONE

Todd Talbot Love It Or List It

Contents

SPRING / SUMMER 2021

For Online Interactive magazine go to www.atasteofthekawarthas.com

Features 18 Kortney Wilson

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Real Estate

24 Todd Talbot

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Googlyness!

28 Navigating Memory Loss

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Drew’s Chicks

Masters of Flip & Making It Home Love It or List It

What Did I Have for Breakfast?

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24

Will I Ever Be Able To Buy a Home?

They Are All Around You! Rent A Chick is Booming!

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Columns Palatable Pleasures 6 Kickin’ Recipes - Chef Brian Henry 8 Chefs - Monica Silva 10 Craft Brewery - Lindsay Brewery 12 Chocolatiers - Millbrook Valley 14 Recipes by Carol Turner 15 Recipes by Signe’s Kitchen 16 Burleigh Falls - Stay, Play & Enjoy!

Get Out and Play 32 Off Road Riding KATVA

Lifestyle 18 Kortney Wilson - Masters of Flip 24 Todd Talbot - Love It or List It 28 Navigating Memory Loss 34 Ahoy by a Century - Trent Severn Waterways 38 Googlyness! - Fun with Googly Eyes 40 Organize your Life - 10 Minute Organizing 41 Making a Difference - Tim Mak 42 Home - Silver Linings 44 Drew’s Chicks - Renting Chicks for fun!

Real Estate Pets 45 Coco Cakes - Natural treats for your Horse 36 Real Estate Bidding Wars 38 Home Inspections in a Bidding War 46 Pets - Pawty at the Dog Park 47 Vets - Socializing your Puppy 39 Red Brick Lofts 4

A note From the Editor

We would like to thank all our readers who voted for us in the 2020 & 2021 Kawartha Lakes This Week

Awards and the Peterborough This Week Awards!! It’s so nice to know our hard work and dedication to the Kawarthas is paying off! Thank you so much!

On a more somber note, my mother passed away from Dementia on April 9th, and my family found it difficult to navigate the system during Covid. It was very frustrating. Our saving grace was the Alzheimer’s Society, who pointed us in the direction to Dr. Byles. She helped us out immensely! So, to help others, we are publishing a series on Dementia and Alzheimer’s. Our goal is to help guide you through the process with Dr. Jennifer Ingram. So I would like to dedicate this to my mother, Irene Irvine, who was a wonderful, caring, thoughtful woman who loved her family more than life itself. Feel free to email me with your favourite articles and what you would like to see in future issues. Enjoy reading and stay safe!

Karen Irvine - Editor, Video Editor, Videographer, Photographer, Social Media Diva & Motorcycle Enthusiast

Email - atasteofthekawarthas@gmail.com Website - www.atasteofthekawarthas.com Facebook - A Taste of the Kawarthas Magazine Instagram - @atasteofthekawarthas Twitter - @atasteofthekaw1 Margaret Swaine, Author, Travel, Wine, Golf, Spas & Spirits Columnist

Chef Brian Henry, Chef Extraordinaire & ATOTK Food Editor

Elwood Jones, Historian Trent Valley Archives & Newspaper Journalist

Jay Lough Hayes, Real Estate Broker

Danielle French, South Pond Farms

Jay Cooper, Musician, Graphics Designer, Motorcycle Enthusiast

Dr. Kelly Wasylciw Veterinarian

Nicole Cooke, Organized by Design

Steve Irvine Home Sweet Home Inspections

Photo by South Pond Farm

Carolyn Richards, Kawartha ATV Association

Publisher - Slither Productions Editor - Karen Irvine Creative Director - Jay Cooper Advertising Sales - (705) 772-8074 Email - atasteofthekawarthas@gmail.com Contributors

Real Estate - Jay Lough Hayes Rockin’ Musicians - Jay Cooper Organizing - Nicole Cooke Kickin’ Recipes - Chef Brian Henry Cover Story Interviews - Jay Cooper Chefs - Karen Irvine Global Getaways - Margaret Swaine Pets - Chick McCamus Home - Danielle French Historian - Elwood Jones Dementia Series - Dr. Ingram Chocolatiers - Gina Jones Craft Brewers - Sheila Stewart ATV - Carolyn Richards Vet’s Corner - Dr. Kelly Wasylciw Christmas Cocktails - Madison Gallimore Carol’s Kitchen - Carol Turner Signe’s Kitchen - Signe Langford

Photographers

Karen Irvine, KATVA, Kortney Cover photo by Kathy Thomas, Todd Cover photo by Janis Nicolay A Taste of the Kawarthas Magazine is published bimonthly. Articles do not necessarily reflect A Taste of the Kawarthas Magazine or Slither Productions policy. All rights reserved. Reproduction in part or whole without permission is prohibited. © 2020 Published by Slither Productions www.slitherproductions.com

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Kickin’ Recipes

by Chef Brian Henry Food Editor www.thespiceco.ca www.chefbrianhenry.com

Owner of Angle Iron Kitchens & The Spice Co.

GETTING ALL

FIRED UP!

Get your Mojo On!

No doubt that after the extended lockdowns these past few months and the collective punch in the gut or kick in the nuts many of us are feeling we need to get our mojo back.

Start by stepping away from the sourdough.

That was so Lockdown 1.0. It’s time to use some of the skills you learned with the Lockdown 2.0 trend of Meal Kits that created more waste than our discarded PPE in the following recipe for Mojo Pork. Get outdoors and fire up your barbecue and try this dish that is full of tropical flavours combined with just the right amount of spice and is best paired with a rustic avocado salad. It’s a great way to get your summer groove on!

METHOD: Trim the pork of any excess fat and cut it into cubes about an inch in size. Thread the cubes onto skewers and lay them in a shallow plastic container. In a bowl, whisk together all of the remaining ingredients and pour them over the pork skewers.

Cover with plastic wrap and let the skewers marinate overnight in the fridge.

PORK INGREDIENTS: 2 lb pork shoulder 2 tbsp. Mexican Kitchen Cartel (The Spice Co) 2 garlic cloves, minced 1 cup orange juice 1/4 cup minced green onions 1/2 cup lime juice 2 tbsp. Cooking oil

MOJO INGREDIENTS: 2 tbsp. bread crumbs 3 garlic cloves 1 – 2 tsp. red pepper flakes 1 tsp cumin seeds 1 tsp sweet paprika Pinch of salt and pepper 4 tsp malt vinegar 1/4 cup canola oil

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MOJO PORK METHOD: Combine all of the ingredients except the oil in a food processor and pulse them into a paste, adding the oil a little bit at a time until you achieve a consistency which will be thick yet viscous.

Place mojo in a serving dish, cover and refrigerate overnight.

Cook the skewers over medium-high heat for about 3-5 minutes, until cooked but still juicy. The skewers can be pan-fried or roasted in the oven but are best when grilled over wood or charcoal. Serve the cooked skewers with the mojo for dipping. Season to taste with salt and pepper. Serve with a rustic avocado salad.

AVOCADO SALAD INGREDIENTS: 1 sweet potato, cubed 2 avocados, chopped 2 tomatoes, seeded 1/4 cup chopped cilantro 2 garlic cloves, minced 1/4 cup olive oil Salt & pepper to taste METHOD: Place the cubed sweet potatoes in a sauce pan. Cover with water and boil until soft but not mushy. Place in a medium bowl and add remaining ingredients and toss. Serve immediately.

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CHEFS OF THE KAWARTHAS

By Karen Irvine Editor, ATOTK

Monica Silva - Fresh Dreams

Monica is the mother of 5 children and the wife of Alvaro, her partner at Fresh Dreams.

She started cooking very early with her family in Spain where food is especially important in their household. She learned different styles of cooking from recipe books and started to experiment on her own to find something different. Monica’s sister-in-law urged to start catering in Spain. “My catering business in Spain was Con Mucho Cariño and it was fantastic,” she said. They received many accolades from their customers. She smiled and said, “To see their faces light up and enjoy my creations - I love when people tell me they love my meals.” That catering service ran for 9 years. She took cooking classes in Spain to become a Chef, which inspired her to be even more creative.

Monica and Alvaro moved to Peterborough when Spain was in an economic crisis in 2014.

She says, “It’s good for everybody. My daughter Alex found Peterborough and thought it would be great. We feel more comfortable in a smaller town and love the area. I didn’t want to work for anybody because at the time my English wasn’t very good.” They were originally on Hunter St beside NaKeD Chocolate. “I would cook at home and bring the food in coolers for the customers. Everybody loved it,” she said.

We wanted to grow and have longer hours, so we moved to Queen Street at the old Electric City Gardens location. I’m so happy here.”

Monica only cooks with fresh, local food. “I don’t want to cook with frozen food. I want to 8

pick out my tomatoes and vegetables, and use local lentils. Canada is the world’s leading producer and exporter of lentils. I don’t use added salt. I cook with fresh ingredients, like olive oil from Spain, Greece and Italy. I don’t like processed food. Our meals are not complicated – they are easy recipes. Everything I cook is what you would eat in Spain at a family restaurant,” she said.

Monica continued, “We have a lot of friends here because of food. The community supports each other. After we were first locked down, there were many new customers, friends and regulars who came out! We appreciate it very much and are growing by word of mouth. Our vision is to carry on and have the best patio.”

Fresh Dreams is a ‘must stop’ in Peterborough and is a popular stop on A Taste of the Kawarthas Walking Food Tour. Located close to Millennium Park, it’s the perfect place to spend the afternoon then head over to Fresh Dreams for a meal. When you walk in the door, you can smell the enticing aromas. The hardest part of your visit will be choosing from the vast, delicious menu. Ask Alvaro for a recommendation, and you can’t go wrong.

Fresh Dreams | 373 Queen St, Peterborough | 705-559-7731

Craft Beer Breweries Lindsay Brewing Company

By Sheila Stewart

In 1898, the Lindsay Brewery was located on the banks of the Scugog River,

just outside of downtown Lindsay, Ontario. Surrounded by numerous Mills, Factories and Hotels, each connected by an extensive railway system. It was a time of incredible growth and opportunity.

Exciting things are happening in Lindsay again as the town makes its way through a period of gentrification and development.

The Lindsay Brewing Company is located at 8 Cambridge Street North (formerly the home of the Pie Eyed Monk Brewery). Built in 1868, the C. L. Baker building has been fully restored and is complete with modern amenities, along with a 7 Barrel System and automated canning line.

Lindsay Brewing Company offers a totally new beer line-up with something for every Ontario Craft Beer lover. Choose from a Golden Ale, Amber Ale, Stout, Altbier, Pale Ale or one of their limited releases. Everything is brewed and packaged in house.

“We wanted to celebrate the deep history of our town and to share its story with our customers. Each label has been designed using other local historical properties as inspiration. First Response Amber Ale pays tribute

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to the local firehall and the many brave women and men that serve our community,” says GM Erastus Burley.

The on site bottle shop offers cans, growlers and kegs for purchase. An online store will be live in the coming weeks, offering customers the opportunity to have their favourite beer delivered right to their door.

If you are planning an outdoor wedding or special event, be sure to check out their mobile beer trailer. This custom designed rig is a real head turner!

I have had a meal at Pie Eyed Monk and enjoyed tasting their line of craft beers. This should be on your list of destination dining and just because go-to places.

Check them out online at: www.lindsaybrewingcompany.ca Or drop by the full service restaurant for lunch or dinner.

Each label has been designed using other local historical properties as inspiration.

FIRST RESPONSE: Built in 1902, the Lindsay Fire Hall stands tall and proud to the West. Their Amber Ale honours our First Responders and Frontline Workers. LCB are grateful for their knowledge, selflessness and bravery.

SECOND ACT: When the doors opened at the Academy Theatre in 1893, it was billed as the most technically perfect theatre in Canada. With seating for 900 people, countless audience members have applauded the many artists and performers that have graced this stage.

OLDE GAOL: Built in 1863, the original gaol building was constructed of limestone and white brick with a slate roof. It was fashioned in the Italianate design, common for jails at that time, distinguishable by strong symmetrical, round-headed windows.

LOCK 33: Lock 33 is located within the Trent-Severn waterway, on the Scugog River. A sawmill was built here in 1828. The existing structure once contained a stone flour mill and a lumber mill– remnants of a bygone age of rugged industry and dogged determination.

SMOKE STACK: The first train on the Victoria Junction arrived in Lindsay, ON in 1857. For over a century the rail industry was the economic backbone of the town and by the late 50’s there were many kilometers of tracks throughout the town. Some of these iconic locomotives are on display at Memorial Park.

Chocolatiers

of the Kawarthas

Millbrook Valley Chocolates

By Gina Jones Chocolate Lover

I met up with Steve and Jackie Flamminio, owners of Millbrook Valley Chocolates and the winners of the 2020 Readers Choice Award for Best Chocolate Shop. I had so much fun chatting with them! Their demeanor is warm and welcoming, and we laughed – a lot!

Jackie’s first husband passed away 18 years ago and at the time, she had four young kids with one still in diapers. So you can see where she gets her amazing strength. Jackie’s love of movies led her to work at a local video store where, four years later, she met Steve. “He came in for a video and it was love at first sight,” Jackie laughs. They moved in together, along with Jackie’s four kids. Between the two of them, they have six kids. When they introduced their children together, ironically they all knew each other since they all went to the same school. And now they are grown and have moved out. “We are empty nesters, baby!” She laughs.

Opening the chocolate business was an unexpected career for either of them. Steve worked in a steel plant. “So the only shift I don’t work now is midnights”, he laughs. “Except when we are super busy at Easter and Christmas,” Jackie laughs.

So why chocolate? “It’s an exciting experience! Customers love coming and we need all the happiness in our lives as we can get,” says Jackie. They didn’t know much about chocolate. “I thought I knew a bit, because I used to bake all the time. What I knew was absolutely nothing,” she laughs. They spent time visiting other Chocolate shops but Jackie, being the ultimate optimist, said she could do better.

Some of the top end shops don’t actually make the chocolate themselves. “It’s an integrity thing. We are a chocolate shop, we are the Chocolatiers and we can vouch for our products.”

Why Millbrook? “In the fall of 2015 we went for a drive and the trees were beautiful with the autumn colours. We came up over the crest of the 12

hill into Millbrook and I said, Oh My God this is so beautiful! We parked downtown to walk around, and Joe the Barber’s music was playing outside his shop. We walked by, saw this store was for rent, and took it right away.”

“You are getting all organic and all fresh.”

They love what they do and it shows. Their specialty is chocolate, but they also make incredible ice cream cakes, truffles and in the summer they have ice cream.

‘We will potentially be doing European chocolate desserts as well,” says Jackie. People drive for miles for their famous European-style hot chocolate. It’s melted pure Belgium chocolate, with your choice of milk, white or dark chocolate, and a variety of flavors to choose from. I tasted the dark chocolate with peanut butter and it’s delicious!

“We don’t use shelf life extending additives,” Jackie says, “We’ve never had to, our chocolate sells so fast that it’s not on the shelf for more than five days. Every-

thing here is real. If it’s a raspberry truffle I’m smashing raspberries, if it’s a lemon truffle, I’m smashing lemons. So you are getting all organic and all fresh.”

Jackie has held chocolate making classes for Grade 1 and 2 students in schools. “We taught them where chocolate comes from and what the cocoa tastes like right off the tree,” says Steve. “The one thing I miss with Covid regulations is not hosting workshops. We have a riot of a time,” Jackie says.

They have the alley patio and host birthday parties along with customers just enjoying their time watching the world go by.

“We get the local customers, but people come from Pickering, Lindsay, Bobcaygeon and Peterborough,” Jackie says. “Our motivation is love. Millbrook is our extended family and it’s all about caring about our neighbours.”

“My favourite part of our business is that I get to work with my wife every day,” says Steve. Jackie concurs, “We are a 24-7 couple and I love it.”

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Carol’s Kitchen

By Carol Turner @carolturner9319

Gruyere & Garlic Scape Pesto Stuffed Chicken Breasts This is an easy recipe to prepare; great for entertaining or weeknight suppers. Feel free to sub-

stitute a different cheese for the Gruyere, or try a different pesto. Sometimes I add finely chopped nuts to the bread crumbs for added flavour and texture.

INGREDIENTS Serves 2 (recipe can be doubled) CHICKEN: 2 large boneless skinless chicken breast halves 4 teaspoons garlic scape pesto (or pesto of your choice) 1/3 cup grated Gruyere cheese Flour for dredging, seasoned with salt and pepper 1 egg, lightly beaten with one teaspoon water 1/2 cup seasoned bread crumbs Vegetable oil CREAM SAUCE: 1 tablespoon butter or olive oil 1 finely chopped shallot 2 teaspoons garlic scape pesto (slightly drained) 1/2 teaspoon Dijon mustard 1/4 cup chicken stock 1/2 cup heavy cream (35%) 1/2 fresh lemon, cut in half (optional) DIRECTIONS 1. Place chicken between 2 sheets of waxed paper and pound with a mallet to 1/4 inch thickness. Season with salt and pepper.

2. Place flour, beaten egg and bread crumbs in 3 separate bowls.

3. Spread each breast with 2 teaspoons pesto then sprinkle over 2 tablespoons Gruyere cheese. Starting at short end tightly roll breasts to enclose filling securing with a toothpick if necessary.

4. Dredge chicken lightly in flour then dip into beaten egg and finally roll in bread crumbs to evenly coat. Refrigerate 20 minutes.

5. Pour vegetable oil to 1/8 inch in a heavy skillet, heat over medium heat, add rolls and cook until lightly browned

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on all sides, about 6 minutes. Transfer, seam side down, to an ovenproof baking dish.

6. Bake in a preheated oven at 350 degrees for 2025 minutes uncovered.

7. Meanwhile, prepare sauce. Heat butter or oil over medium heat. Add shallots and cook for 4 minutes without browning. Add pesto, mustard and chicken stock and cook until heated through. Add cream, bring to a boil and reduce heat and simmer briefly until slightly thickened. Season with salt and pepper. Slice chicken on diagonal and serve over a pool of sauce. Garnish with fresh herbs and a lemon wedge (I squeeze the juice over the entire dish before eating for a bright pop of flavour!)

Serve with rice or potato and seasonal vegetables.

Carol lives in the Kawarthas and is motivated and inspired to cook – from our incredible restaurants, bakeries, butchers and specialty food shops to our farmer’s markets and comprehensive supermarkets. She loves to create recipes using seasonal ingredients and local products and has everything she needs at her doorstep.

Follow Carol on Instagram @carolturner9319

Signe’s Kitchen

By Signe Langford Signe’s Kitchen www.signelangford.com

Sweet Lingonberry Jam Omelette

The first dinner a boy ever cooked for me was an omelette; um . . . it was a night of other mo-

mentous firsts. I have a thing for omelettes. Omelette soufflé à la confiture is sweet and light, like our memories of youth. And although “confiture” means jam or preserve, any sweet fruit spread or purée will work.

INGREDIENTS 1/4 cup (60 mL) homemade or excellent-quality storebought lingonberry jam, at room temperature 1/3 cup (80 mL) mascarpone, at room temperature 1 Tbsp (15 mL) freshly squeezed lemon juice 3 free-run eggs, separated 2 Tbsp (30 mL) super-fine vanilla sugar, divided Pinch fine sea salt 2 Tbsp (30 mL) butter, divided 2 tsp (10 mL) icing sugar for garnish (optional) DIRECTIONS 1. In a medium bowl, add the jam, mascarpone and lemon juice and stir well to fully combine. Set aside.

2. Place egg yolks and 1 tablespoon (15 mL) of the vanilla sugar in a medium bowl and whisk until pale, creamy and beginning to thicken.

3. Place egg whites in a large bowl that has been wiped out with a drop of lemon juice and a clean kitchen towel.

Add the remaining tablespoon (15 mL) sugar and a pinch of salt, and using electric beaters or a stand mixer with the whisk attachment, beat the whites until stiff peaks form.

4. Using a rubber spatula, gently fold the whites into the yolks until well combined, being careful not to collapse the whites.

5. Place a 10- to 12-inch (25- to 30- cm) skillet over medium heat. Add 1 tablespoon (15 mL) of the butter, melt and swirl around the skillet. Pour in the egg mixture and spread out to the edges, patting it down a bit. Cook for about 2 to 3 minutes, or until the eggs look just set. Do not let the omelette brown.

6. Using either an offset spatula or egg flipper, slide around the edges and underneath to make sure there are no stuck bits. When you’re sure the omelette is loose, set a plate on top of the skillet and flip it over; the omelette should drop onto the plate. Wait a second and listen for the soft “plunk”!

7. Return the skillet to the heat and add the remaining but-

ter; melt and swirl the butter, then slip the omelette back into the skillet. Continue to cook for about 2 to 3 minutes, or until the egg looks just set.

8. While the second side is cooking, spoon the jam-mascarpone filling over one half of the omelette. Tip the skillet, and with the help of a spatula, slip the omelette onto a serving platter, then fold the omelette in half. It won’t be perfect—it shouldn’t be perfect—the filling should be peeking out suggestively! Or, and this is my preferred way, skip this last stressful step and eat right out of the pan, tête-à-tête style.

9. Dust with icing sugar if you care to and serve immediately.

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Burleigh Falls Inn - Stay, Play and Enjoy!

By Karen Irvine Editor, ATOTK

Manager Jennifer Craig has exciting new dining experiences being implemented with Ex-

ecutive Chef Tammy Laroche. You will remember Tammy as the featured Chef in the December 2019 issue of this magazine.

The Dream Team, as Jennifer calls them, has Tammy and Chef David Lienardy both bringing new ideas to the table. Add in Justin Cole, who has experience working with local Chefs. They are having fun and it shows in the menu. Tammy says, “From the time I walked in here, it just felt right. Jennifer and I have the same work ethics.”

Jennifer says, “What we realized after our plans were interrupted last year, is that we are going ahead with development changes in 2021 to get us to the next level. The plan has always been to develop the property as a destination of travelers coming for a boating stay, dining experience and day visitors, & year-round comfort.

Burleigh is a unique facility that has three unique dining opportunities. The Grill Café (formerly The Grill) for take out, The Dining Room and The Porch.

“One of the things moving forward for 2021 and the foreseeable future, we recognize there is probably a contingent of individuals that prefer take out and the casual atmosphere,” says Jennifer. So they will maintain The Grill as a take out component. “We are working on partnerships with local businesses. We are doing something fresh and local, concentrating on sandwiches, fresh salads and pizza,” she says. Watch for partnership announcements coming soon!

The menu is being re-jigged. Tammy says, “We will keep some of the classics, but are putting a new twist on them. We are taking things up 5 notches.

There’s some things I can’t change or our customers will shoot us,” she laughs.

The Dining Room will host specialty events. The hope is that by June/July they will do strategic 16

Grilled Sirloin with wild mushroom blend & creamy Dijon sauce

group gatherings. This includes a high tea with select local organic teas, wonderful pastries and savoury items. They will have evening events Dinner Theatres, Comedy dinner nights, Fashion shows, Intimate Weddings, private dining for special occasions and more. “Later this season we will introduce our Supper Club, which is planned as a twelve-month series of limited seating monthly dinners. Our hope is to open our doors for guest Chefs for the Five Hand Dinners. Local Chefs will come in, work with our Executive Chef and kitchen staff and showcase their uniqueness highlighting the area’s bounty,” says Jennifer.

The Porch will be the focus for the summer community guests. “That’s where they want to be in the summertime. It is uniquely situated with 80 seats, all having the picturesque views of Stoney

“Burleigh is a unique facility that has three unique dining opportunities.”

Lake. It will be Casual Porch dining focusing on lunch and dinner menus. For those lazy summer afternoons, we are introducing a new appetizer & tapas menu for the in-between times. More excitingly, we will be bringing back music on The Porch Series twice a week with local artists. It’s a drop in feeling. It adds to the experience. Our guests can actually be in the pool and listen to the music,” she says.

support we receive from them is tremendous and overwhelming at times. We have customers we can count on every week. We recognize that and don’t want to do anything to lose it.

So although we are building back stronger, we will stay true to our roots,” says Jennifer.

Jennifer is from the area; she understands what Burleigh Falls Inn can be and is pushing to make it a reality. There are transient boating slips for guests who want to come stay, or just come for a meal. The marina store offers bait & tackle, propane exchange, firewood, and, of course, marine fuel for the local waterfront community.

“If it were not for the local community from Lakefield to Apsley, Stoney Lake, Clear Lake and Buckhorn, we would not have made it through the last year. The

Bacon Cheeseburger

Thank You, Thank You, Thank You! THANK YOU TO ALL OUR COMMUNITY FOR YOUR SUPPORT FROM THE BURLEIGH FALLS INN TEAM www.burleighfallsinn.com (705) 654-3441 FaceBook and Instagram

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KO RT N E Y W I L S O N Masters of Flip & Making It Home

By Jay Cooper

If you watch HGTV, you are very aware of the talented Kortney Wilson from Masters of Flip

and Making It Home shows. She is not just a TV pro with a smiling face and quick wit but also an accomplished entrepreneur, Canadian actor, country singer/songwriter, real estate professional, designer, television personality, mother AND a proud Canadian?

KW: Yes, I am, and that’s why I was excited to do this interview. I’m in North York right now and have been shooting for the last 6 weeks here.

ATOTK: What is your connection to the Kawarthas?

KW: I have many friends that have cottages there to visit and it inspired me to buy a cottage in Kentucky as I’m a dual citizen.

ATOTK: History lesson. You were born in Windsor Ontario?

KW: I was, but at 3 months old my family moved to Sudbury, which I loved, and I started doing musical theatre up there. When we moved to the Kitchener area when I was 13, I continued with productions in the Kitchener/Guelph area and most notably as Annie when I was 16, before I moved to Nashville. So many amazing memories of those times and knew I wanted to pursue a career in music and entertainment.

ATOTK: Were the rest of the family also performers?

KW: No, not at all. One of my siblings is a paramedic, another is a hockey coach and another is a teacher. None of them play an instrument, including my parents. It was just something I had and was a part of me.

ATOTK: How did you get into being a musician?

KW: My parents put me in piano lessons at a young age because I would sit and try to learn songs I heard by ear and got very good at it. Not

your traditional age to start since I was about 10, but it is the one thing that propelled me in my musical career. When I went to Nashville, I became a songwriter and didn’t really need to read music as much.

ATOTK: How did the Nashville connection happen?

KW: There weren’t any connections. My parents were not in the music industry. But what they did do was take me around Ontario to these competitions in the summers at festivals and fairs because that’s what I loved to do. I won a National Event at the Western Fair in London, Ontario. One of the judges, who taught music at Fanshawe College, said to my mother, “You’re daughter is very good and she needs to go to Nashville”. I had coffee with him a year later and he said, “You’re going.” I had no clue how to get there or what I was doing but I had to go. I had a chat with my parents in December of ‘97 and told them I was going. They said, “Where are you going to live and what are you going to do?” My response was that I have no idea. (laughs) I had $300 and a car, but my mother said “just hold on until February and I will drive you myself,” which I was so thankful for looking back. I was given the name of another struggling Canadian songwriter to look up when I got there, which I did, and he and his girlfriend, Margaret, invited me to stay with them. There was also Victoria Banks (successful singer/songwriter) and my future Continued on next page

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KORTNEY WILSON husband, Dave Wilson, staying there. Everyone had side gigs to pay bills and Margaret was an incredible painter. She just happened to be just painting walls at an entertainment lawyers’ office. She took my demo tape with her to play for him. That was 6 days after I got to Nashville, and he wanted to meet me the next day.

ATOTK: That’s when you changed your last name from Galerno to Kayle?

KW: Well, clearly I wasn’t up on my vegetables to pick the last name Kayle. (laughs) So just imagine - she dropped me off at his office, I’m 18 years old and green as anything. He proceeds to drive me all over Nashville introducing me to people. There was Little Texas’ manager, publishers and the last one was Star Struck Entertainment, which was Reba McEntire’s building. I met Reba’s husband and producer and I’ll never forget when they said, “Sing for me.” I did, and they said, “Great, we will have the paperwork ready for you tomorrow.” It was an amazing time in my life. I signed my first record deal with Lyric Street from the demos from Star Struck. Although it didn’t last forever as I went in and out of other record deals. I came so very close many times to really making it big. So at that point I really felt that it was time to move on. I met with the president of Lyric Street and said I will fulfill my obligation for the last shows but that would be it. I played my last show in New York opening for Rascal Flatts, between the Twin Towers 5 days before they came down on 9/11.

spect for actors that film at that pace and with a new script everyday.

ATOTK: So how did the house flipping start?

KW: By that time, Dave and I were in and out of record deals and we had a house. We also just had Jett, our son, and we were quite honestly broke. (laughs) We put our home up for sale to acquire another place. To save money, at Christmas we came back to Canada to visit family and Dave turned the heat off in our house while we were away. There was an uncommon cold snap for Nashville and the pipes froze. The people that were buying our home walked in on three feet of water. So we took the insurance money, fixed it up and sold it. And that was the start. We bought another little house and thought we could make $10K on it, while Dave was working as a waiter. We made just under $25K, so he quit his job and we became flippers to support us and our music habit. At that time, we were flipping one or two a year, but only one at a time.

ATOTK: So then you acquired your Real Estate license?

ATOTK: You were also on the soap opera, One Life to Live?

KW: Yes, I did a whole summer of filming and it was a wonderful experience and also one of the hardest things I’ve ever done. I have huge rePhoto by Kathy Thomas

“The first season was the hardest, yet it was the most enjoyable.”

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Continued on page 22

KW: Well, I was tired and burned out and wanted to pour myself into something else. Dave replied that I was selling out. I did put the work in and became the brokerage’s rookie of the year, although I cried every time going to and from classes. (laughs) Right after I got my license, HGTV came calling about a show we had pitched them before, which was turned down. Hence, Masters of Flip was born.

I’m still a Realtor with a small team in Nashville, still flipping houses and still doing it on TV. (laughs) ATOTK: Was it really your money that was used to purchase and flip these homes?

KW: It was our money. It was entirely on us and very stressful and hard to pull off. We went from two flips a year to ten for the show. The first season was the hardest, yet it the most enjoyable because it was very raw. We would shoot all day and be told what are we filming the next day, but we

hadn’t even had a chance to go check on the other builds. At the start we were doing everything ourselves. By the second season we had more of a team with project managers and people to get me samples. I was still in control of all the design aspects, but we really needed some help.

ATOTK: So did Masters of Flip end because you didn’t want to be in that game anymore?

KW: By the end of the third season, we were done. Not that we didn’t want to flip anymore, but it was just getting too hard with the filming and trying to manage things to get done. But the show was doing so well that we decided to do season four. So many amazing memories though.

And a lot of the crew from Masters followed us to Making it Home - a lot of them are like family.

This also lead to so many opportunities with my www.kortandco.com website, which is an amaz-

KORTNEY WILSON

Photos by Kathy Thomas

ing accomplishment.

ATOTK: With the housing market what it is now, it would be difficult to even find homes to flip?

KW: True, when we exited the show, it was so hard to even find a property in Nashville. Even after the first season the network wanted 20 homes and the answer was, we can’t even find that many and we were contractually obligated to flip as many as we said we could, so we settled on half. That’s when Making it Home came along. It was a dream of mine, where we didn’t have to buy and flip, just do what we do best in the reno and design.

ATOTK: Best Gig? KW: Dave and I did a Saturday morning talk

www.kortandco.com

show on CMT called Kortney and Dave by Request and we loved it! It was just so much fun.

ATOTK: Worst Gig? KW: We were hired to do this country club to perform after dinner. Amazing intro and 15 seconds later, when we started singing, people decided they were just going to keep on talking to each other. So worst gig, yes, but we laughed our asses off. We just made lyrics up. We played the same song three times in a row and nobody noticed. (laughs) ATOTK: I thank you so much for your time. It’s been such a pleasure.

KW: You’re very welcome Jay. I can’t wait to have a copy of the magazine!

Instagram @allthingskortneywilson

FaceBook Kortney Wilson 23

TO D D TA L B OT Love It or List It

By Jay Cooper

I had the pleasure of interviewing one of my favourite TV hosts and my new best friend.

Right, Todd? (laughs) It was a fascinating, informative and completely hilarious chat. Todd and his family are currently constructing their Eh Frame cottage on the West Coast. Follow Todd on his social media for updates on the build.

Photo by Janis Nicolay

ATOTK: How’s the weather in Vancouver?

TT: Classically shitty. (laughs) I’m a Vancouver boy born and raised, but I’m not sure if it’s climate change or I’m just getting older and tired of all the rain.

ATOTK: I’ve never made it out to the West Coast, although I’ve been so many other places and countries.

TT: Well you know what they say, Jay, save the best for last (laughs) 24

ATOTK: What’s your connection to the Kawarthas?

TT: My Dad is from Toronto and all of my extended Talbot family stayed in Ontario, except my father who moved out west. I’ve spent a lot of time there, every year growing up, coming back at Christmas time or the summer. My grandfather and uncle had a place on Pigeon Lake. My cousin built a beautiful cottage on Sandy Lake. My aunt lives in Peterborough. The latest connection is that I was working with Toyota Canada and they put on a 3-day event where we went 4X4ing with the local groups, testing out the new trucks near Bobcaygeon. Social media being what it is, I did an in store appearance there, which was also an absolute blast. I’m not trying to blow smoke; so to speak, we really don’t have that kind of experience out here on the west coast. Sure we have the Gulf Islands, ocean and mountains but there is something magical, amazing and inspiring about your area. After coming back from the Bobcaygeon area, we bought a property on a lake in the Okanagan, which is about four hours from Vancouver.

ATOTK: What inspired you to start your Eh Frame business?

TT: We built a brand around this A Frame we’re building. We also have merch that adds to that lifestyle, lake life feel. Have to say, being in the Kawarthas gave me that vibe and inspired me to bring my own version to the table. Check us out at www.ehframe.com

Actor, Television Host and Real Estate Mogul But most important - Fumy Guy!

ATOTK: History lesson for your fans that might not know.

TT: I was born in Vancouver. We moved around quite a bit from Victoria to Salt Spring Island to Tumbler Ridge and then North Burnaby. I’m the oldest of 5 kids, super active with parents that were passionate, supportive and did everything they could do to create opportunities for their kids. Follow your dreams and set the bar.

ATOTK: You were on Hillside (TV series) early on?

TT: Yes, I started acting professionally at a very young age with that show - which was a big success - alongside Ryan Reynolds. My parents were supportive, creating the opportunity to pursue it, if that’s what I wanted to do. Ultimately, I went to London England to attend theatre school to follow that path.

Photo by Mike Cockburn

doesn’t pay that much. (laughs)

ATOTK: Were the rest of the family creative with a thirst for the arts?

TT: Not at all. (laughs) My parents were highly educated and talented but acting was something they had zero exposure to. A friend’s father was an actor named Harvey Miller who ran a theatre program. I expressed interest, so my parents phoned him and he suggested an agent. Much different times then of course, so we just went blindly down this path.

My wife, Rebecca, is an actor also and that’s when we met. My son Kessler took to the business and not because we really encouraged anything. The nice part for us, we’ve been in the business a long time and know how the whole machine works and the processes.

ATOTK: Your best known for Love it or List it Vancouver.

TT: Whether I like it or not. (laughs) It’s OK, it’s all good. Well after 130 episodes I felt that it was time for a change. We filmed for almost 8 years.

Which was an amazing journey that changed my life in a bunch of ways, but it was definitely time for a shift to do something else. It’s a tricky proposition for someone like me that’s been a self-employed actor my whole life and any gig I did would be for 4 to 6 months. I would equate it to being on a long running Broadway show, where you’re doing the same thing over and over again for 8 years. It astounded me at how popular it got and we had a great time doing it. Many people have a hard time with why I would want to switch it up but you have to have a level of passion for what you’re doing, as it’s hard to manufacture the comedy and energy behind it.

ATOTK: So many actors have expressed their love of theatre to me and you are no exception.

TT: I got into live theatre, which is not such a great financial move. While I never wanted for work, I’m very fortunate as a full time actor, but theatre just

ATOTK: On the show you’re the real estate agent. Is that real or just acting?

TT: I am licensed. My journey into real estate came from a hobby and a passion that was never designed to be a business. As a full time actor, Continued on next page

25

TO D D TA L B OT Love It or List It

I started investing in real estate. I bought my first place, refinanced it, then bought another one. It was a good time to get into it and a perfect fit while working in theatre. My colleagues noticed what I was doing and started picking my brain for investment knowledge, so I started mentoring them to help build a stable financial future. I really didn’t know the business of real estate, just that I was super into investing and renovating.

A friend and I started a business called Condo Guys Marketing. The condo market in Vancouver was booming, so we helped people buy, sell and market. By then I had that, plus a staging company along with my own projects building and renovating, all while I was a full time actor in theatre. The great part was the shows were in the evening, so I had my days free. Thankfully I had a high capacity for working in those days. Not quite so much anymore. (laughs) ATOTK: How did you get the role on Love it or List it Vancouver?

TT: Well, because I was sort of the go-to guy for real estate in the entertainment sector and they were expanding the show from Toronto to here, they hired a producer friend of mine. He phoned and told me about the show and they were struggling to get the male character for it. It was a one-year contract and would I be interested?

I’ll say yes to anything once and that started my new adventure, bringing my two fields together.

ATOTK: Did you really get along with your Cohost Jillian Harris?

TT: We came from different worlds. Her television experience was The Bachelor and Bachelorette, which were foreign to me, as I have never watched any of it. Not my cup of tea so to speak. (laughs) What worked well was that we could 26

Photo by Janis Nicolay

identify where each other’s strengths were. I learned a lot from Jillian to operate in the reality world, which is a funny business, as she spent many years exposed to it and how to leverage the format. Another part with Jill and I is the brother and sister kind of feel to the characters ATOTK: The popularity of HGTV renovation shows is huge.

TT: It surprised me on how popular the show became. People think it’s a Canadian show; it’s far from it. It airs all over the world. The viewers dwarf the Canadian audience in Brazil for example. I think Vancouver was an unspoken character in the show. It’s beautiful, you could showcase interesting things and the environment was great to shoot in. The format was appealing to people with the hook at the end where you at home kind of get to play along, thinking what would I do in that position. I get messages everyday thanking me for making them smile and laugh and that is the thing I’m most proud of.

“It surprised me how popular the show got. It airs all over the world”

says you need a home in a certain area as we film on Wednesday. The team says “There isn’t one”. (laughs) Or could be 5 houses that fit the criteria and they all say no to having a production crew in. And then what do you do?

ATOTK: Do the guests on the show actual pay for the reno and furniture?

TT: Great question. Yes they paid for all of it. So why would you do such a show? The answer would be speed, quality, accountability and some people wanted to be on TV. 98% of the couples were awesome as they had zero clue of what it is like being on a show. I took it upon myself to mentor them with what and how much to say, as some had little to say and others went on and on and on. (laughs) Photo by Janis Nicolay

ATOTK: Although the show seems seamless, I’m sure that was not the reality of it.

TT: (laughs) Well, this is where real life and TV life collide. There were real life challenges that impacted how we could shoot the show, like permits. Although we never talked about that, it can mess up the process, as the city is saying 4 months to process the paperwork to take down a wall. We shot 4 episodes at the same time because it took so long to get all those pieces to come together. The hardest part was, Jill and I would run around to these 4 different episodes and ask, what did I say to these people the last time I saw them, 3 couples ago and 2 weeks ago. (laughs) Our crew and the production team really managed that stuff with the reno, design and finding houses. That would have been too many hats to wear for a host of the show. The show

ATOTK: Any other future projects you would like to do?

TT: Yeah I want to do a show called “Canadians in Canoes getting beer”. (laughs) Myself and maybe Wayne Gretzky paddling along, waving at people on their dock, then stop in and chat for awhile and have a couple of beers. (laughs) ATOTK: Wine or Beer?

TT: Oh beer, hands down. In fact Love it or List It set up the end scene where the loser had to buy the other a glass of wine. I said but I don’t drink wine and my awakening was that the producers just didn’t care. I have a partnership with Heineken and when they approached me I was thinking OMG I’d do that for free beer. (laughs) When I was offered that last summer I was like I have made it. Heineken, a beer that I truly love, comes to me and pays me money to drink their beer, I thought I can retire now, I’m done, it’s the coolest thing ever. (he laughs)

www.ehframe.com www.toddtalbot.ca Instagram @toddtalbot FB LinkedIn Todd Talbot

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NAVIGATING MEMORY LOSS What Did I Have For Breakfast?

By Dr. K. Jennifer Ingram, MD FRCPC Founder and Medical Director Kawartha Centre - Redefining Healthy Aging

We live in a beautiful, culturally rich, and environmentally diverse area. This has not gone un-

noticed, as evidenced by the number of seniors enjoying their retirement years here. Over 23% of the population of Peterborough and the Kawarthas is over the age of 65. Along with enjoying their golden years, this age group often experiences physical, medical, and cognitive changes – including dementia.

As a caregiver for a family member with dementia in a distant community, Karen Irvine (Editor of this magazine), recognized a lack of public awareness about memory concerns and a dearth of knowledge in how to access care. Her experiences resulted in this series of articles. Without question, the possibility of dementia is worrisome for all. My goal here is to shed light on the depth of service in the Kawarthas where we have addressed this head-on. I can help you navigate the system if you have concerns about memory loss - personal or otherwise.

Dementia, an umbrella term for memory loss, is frequently unnoticed by the individual affected.

Instead, families will notice changes in daily activities such as banking, driving, medication management, shopping, or cooking. Alzheimer’s disease is the most common form of dementia (60-80%), but other causes exist. In the Kawartha area, unlike many rural and small urban communities across Ontario, we have developed unique teams and services that provide access to knowledgeable assessment and world class research for people with memory concerns.

When should you be concerned? Who do you call? What supports are available? Early diagnosis is important. The first step is to make an appointment with your family doctor for a memory assessment. All family physicians have been trained to evaluate memory or to connect you to services that can. Some doctors have a memory team or assessor in-house, others rely on refer28

rals to memory specialists. If you have noticed memory problems, it is imperative to have a thorough evaluation before attributing your concerns to just “normal aging”.

For the past decade, seniors in the Kawarthas have benefitted from our unique Senior’s Care Network and its GAIN teams (Geriatric Assessment and Intervention Network). These teams are located in Minden, City of Kawartha Lakes, Peterborough, Campbellford, and Port Hope.

All are designed to offer comprehensive assessments either in a clinic setting or in your own home. Unlike most medical services, the patient themselves or a family member can make the initial call. The GAIN team develops a plan of care with you and your doctor to ensure issues don’t fall through the cracks. If you do not have a family doctor, calling GAIN directly is an option to consider.

The diagnosis of dementia signals the beginning of a journey. So, what now? Your first steps are to connect to the Alzheimer’s Society to access their education and support groups, and to Community Care with their bevy of volunteers and services. You will soon find yourself a member of a large caring community of recreational interest groups, day programs, and other valuable contacts to help you navigate this journey.

An exciting opportunity available in our area is the option of participation in international research. In 2002, I founded the Kawartha Centre to bring pharmaceutical trials of new and Continued on page 30

A life well lived should continue at home.

Home Instead® offers customized services, from personal care to memory care, so older adults can stay safe at home.

Call (705) 243-5697 or visit HomeInstead.com/3048 Each Home Instead® franchise is independently owned and operated. © 2021 Home Instead, Inc.

NAVIGATING MEMORY LOSS brought us hope with COVID-19, our Kawartha Centre trials offer hope for antibody treatments designed to stop Alzheimer’s Disease. You can contact us directly if you have a diagnosis of Alzheimer’s Disease or its precursor, Mild Cognitive Impairment (MCI), to see if you are eligible to participate.

The diagnosis of dementia requires several steps including pen and paper assessments, imaging, and bloodwork. Once diagnosed and medication is prescribed, the usual expectation is an annual review at minimum. Research candidates at the Kawartha Centre are generally seen more frequently as defined by research protocols, which is often reassuring.

Seniors aren’t the only ones who are drawn to the

Continued from page 28

Kawarthas! Since 2010, our innovative approach to senior care in the community has attracted six new geriatric medicine specialists and many other senior-focused health care professionals.

The resulting depth of service for seniors is a driving force in our local economy, business development and education offerings. We all benefit from quality care.

If you have concerns about your own memory or that of someone close to you – take heart. You are not alone if you live in the Kawarthas. Now you have a place to start. If you would like to share your story, please reach out to me at dementiaathome@kawarthacentre.com.

I look forward to connecting with you in the coming months.

Dr. Ingram, a specialist in Internal and Geriatric Medicine, is at the forefront of developing focused geriatric programs for community-based seniors in Central East Ontario. Her pivotal role in supporting primary care management of complex seniors led to the development of the Geriatric Assessment and Intervention Network (GAIN) and the Seniors Care Network. These initiatives provide service to over 6,000 frail seniors in their catchment area annually. She is Founder, Medical Director, and Qualified Investigator at the Kawartha Centre ~ Redefining Healthy Aging, a clinical research site for dementia in Peterborough Ontario. She is the Ontario co-lead for Research on Organization of Healthcare Services for Alzheimer’s (ROSA) and a valued participant in the Canadian Consortium for Neurodegeneration in Aging. She is sought-after as a powerful advocate for aging at home, improved systems of memory care, and developing alternatives to institutional long-term care.

GAIN CLINICS Peterborough Regional Health Centre 705-743-2121 x5021 Port Hope Community Health Centre 905-885-2626 x254 Community Care City of Kawartha Lakes 705-879-4112 Trent Hills Community Team 705-653-1140 x2139 Haliburton Highlands Health Services 705-286-2140 x3400 ALZHEIMER’S SOCIETY PETERBOROUGH, KL, NORTHUMBERLAND & HALIBURTON 1-800-561-2588

COMMUNITY CARE Peterborough 705-742-7067 City of Kawartha Lakes 1-800-461-0327 Northumberland 1-866-514-5774 Haliburton County 705-457-1392 Kawartha Centre ~ Redefining Healthy Aging (Clinical Trials and Geriatric Medical Clinic) 705-749-3350

KEEPING YOUR LOVED ONES SAFE AT HOME PETERBOROUGH IN-HOME CARE www.peterborough.comfortkeepers.ca

(705) 243-4042

ATV TrailS

By Carolyn Richards, President, Kawartha ATV Association katva.ca

IN THE KAWARTHAS

Known as one of the most exciting off road adventure

destinations in Ontario, the 5 Points trail system will not disappoint even the most seasoned powersport enthusiast.

This trail system set in approximately 30,000 acres of bush made up of a mixture of crown land and private land is an outdoor lovers paradise.

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The 5 Points Trail System

“You will come across bridges overlooking winding rivers” As soon as you enter the system from one of the many trail heads you know instantly that you’re somewhere special. Within minutes you start to relax and forget about the stresses of daily life. At any time you might come across wildlife such as deer, moose, bear and pheasants are plentiful as well.

Every year more than one trail is submersed in water as a result of the local beavers. They can be seen working away in the many ponds adjacent to the trails. Trap lines can also be found in areas of the trail system.

When exploring the trails you will come across bridges overlooking winding rivers, waterfalls, untouched marshes and swamps, Canadian shield, and stunning canopies of trees. It doesn’t matter whether you ride an ATV, SxS, dirt bike, jeep, mountain bike or hike, these trails are enjoyed by everyone.

If you’re lucky enough you might even get a chance to camp on one of the few crown land campsites available within the forest.

Most trails are at least nine feet wide to accommodate the snow grooming equipment in winter, so they are also wide enough for ATVs, SxS and Jeeps to use. There’s also an abundance of single track trails throughout the forest with more trails being built each year

by Kawartha Off Road Motorcycle Club which is a chapter of Kawartha ATV Association. If you’ve ever wondered what it would be like to ride the trails that the Corduroy Enduro race is held on, you’ve come to the right place.

Every year riders come from around the world to compete in this race that runs right through the 5 points trail system.

during the hunting seasons. Eventually the local snowmobile clubs started maintaining the trails for the snowmobile season and for the last 15 years Kawartha ATV Association has worked with them as well as other off road vehicle organizations to manage and maintain the trails in a safe condition for all trail users to enjoy while still leaving some of the rocky terrain untouched for those looking for a challenge. These organizations act as land stewards for the MNRF and the private landowners who have signed land use agreements with them. They are all volunteers and if not for them the trails would have become impassable over the years.

Be sure and add the 5 points trail system to your bucket list. Maps and trail permits for ATVs, SxS and off road motorcycles can be found at www.katva.ca.

Many of the ATV and snowmobile trails on the crown land were originally built by loggers over the decades and were often found by the off road vehicle organizations to be abandoned and grown over. The trails going through the many sections of private property were often built and maintained for access 33

Photo Credit: Parks Canada

Photo Credit: Baddow Road Photograhy

Photo Credit: Parks Canada

Photo Credit: Baddow Road Photograhy

Photo Credit: Baddow Road Photograhy

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Ahoy by a Century

101 Years on the Trent-Severn Waterways

Photo credit: Peterborough Museum and Archives

Contributed by Karen Feeley Parks Canada

It might begin by hearing the distant bell of a swing bridge as you stroll through a vibrant,

charming rural village. Or you might be sightseeing with the family, taking a bicycle ride or contemplating a paddling adventure. Then you hear the laughter of the lock staff and locals offering to recommend the best place to swim, the best breakfast in town, or that hidden spot to catch “the big one”. Suddenly, you realize that Trent-Severn Waterway is a national treasure that you want to explore some more.

2021 marks 101 years of through-navigation on the Trent-Severn Waterway National Historic Site of Canada, and Parks Canada has the entire season planned with new and exciting ways to mark this once-in-a-lifetime milestone. This season, as you lock through in your boat, camp beside the water, or paddle through the many lakes and rivers, we invite you to reflect on a century of history and become a part of the next 100 years.

Taste of the TSW As part of our celebration and in partnership with the Trent-Severn Trail Towns program, local purveyors of food and drink will be offering up delicacies inspired by their connection to the Trent-Severn Waterway as part of #TasteoftheTSW. Travel with purpose this season, or simply explore your own community

looking for the #TasteoftheTSW sign in the window of supporting businesses.

Julia Child once said, “People who love to eat are always the best people.” Add to that the world-class destination that is the TrentSevern Waterway, and you have a recipe for a #TasteoftheTSW. Pack your appetite, and welcome to the Trent-Severn Waterway.

Check out all that our #TSW101 celebrations have to offer at www.parkscanada.gc.ca/trent-severn-101 35

Real Estate Talk BIDDING WARS Will I Every Be Able To Afford To Buy?

Facebook thread:

Contributed by: Jay Lough Hayes, Sales Representative Peterborough Realty Inc. 705-772-1025

“This is hwy robbery! I had a realtor tell me to move up north when I commented on the prices. Our children and grandchildren are moving away because prices are ridiculous. I tore a strip off him. Did you see the post from one asshat in Oshawa? Bragging on FB sold a house 50k over asking. Only had one offer, bet the people who purchased it would love to know that.”

“I hear ya. I am stuck in the middle of this mess. Single father trying to secure a place locally so I can continue to raise my kids (and see them regularly) in the town I was born and raised in. Losing out when I am bidding well over asking w /no conditions. Heck last one was a wartime 4 bed home w barely a basement and it went for over $500,000. My guess will turn it into a rental and rent it out for a crazy amount. So tired of it – being forced to spend 10s of thousands over asking to even have a chance. I have pretty much given up in my hometown as it is just out of control and it really is no better around the other counties.”

“We have to move your way. They have made it too bloody expensive to buy anything in Durham. Even Bowmanville and Newcastle have million dollar listings.”

So, when was the last time you worked for 1 or 2 weeks at a job you’re very good at and with zero pay cheque at the end? That is exactly what far too many real estates agents are witnessing over the past months. Not just here in Peterborough but in too many locations. A friend of mine in Charlotte North Carolina is experiencing the same difficulty. Trying to guesstimate what the lucky number will be in the real estate bidding wars.

What’s happening? Real estate agents have a home to list. Today’s trend is to underprice the listing, hold offers for 5-10 days and wait for the buyers to set the selling price. With anywhere between 5-50 offers coming in on one house, the “Your guess is as good as mine” adage truly applies.

It’s like the Miss America pageant. Your offer must be flawless. Every bank pre-approved contestant must have an all cash offer, a huge deposit, the seller’s ideal closing date, purchase without a home inspection, and guess at the most likely end price without any idea whether their offer is the lucky winner.

36

What a terrible waste of time for both the realtors and all those buyers. Obviously if there are 16 offers on a property, 15 realtors aren’t getting paid and 15 buyers are not buying a house. Of course, the real estate agent looks like a hero selling a property for $100 +- over asking when the asking was ridiculous in the first place.

Pricing a property isn’t rocket science but today, with a shortage of properties to purchase and the government trying to boost the economy with record low interest rates, no one can even guess what a buyer is willing to pay for their next home or investment property.

The banks lending the money, send their appraiser to physically view the home to ensure the property is worth what that bank is about to lend on. If the appraisal comes up short, the buyer can either walk away from the deal, renegotiate the deal or put more money down to meet what the bank is lending. Today, it seems no offer is turned away by the banks.

In some markets, when the buyer REALLY wants that house, they have been seen to offer the usual over asking price BUT then throw in 2 front row sea-

The average price of homes sold in January 2021 was a record $626,414 son tickets for the Blue Jays season plus an additional $10,000 towards the sellers next home furnishings. One couple even offered an unusual pedigree of dog???

I’ve seen this runaway market before. In 1990 the housing bubble burst, (mortgage rates were 12.5%) we all watched the tap shut off and homes purchased 1 day, were not worth the purchase price a month later. That market fell and seemingly bottomed out in 1997 (Mortgage rates were 7.05%). Buyers who could not enter the housing market previously, were then able to afford their first home and for some, second and investment properties. Since then, the market has been on a steady incline until 2018 (mortgage rates were 3.95%) when things levelled off.

That hiccup was short lived. Now, 2020, the unexpected Covid-19 hit. Working from home, Torontonians who were content to live in a small condo downtown, realized they could sell said condo or house for a great profit and move to the country.

Many found their way to points east of Durham only to purchase their next home for half of what they just sold for, giving little thought to asking prices. Oh, by the way, Toronto real estate prices have increased 133% faster than New York City, 33.7% faster than LA, 45.3% faster the San Fran and 61% faster than Seattle.

According to Better Dwelling, a housing analytical platform, Toronto real estate prices have increased 239% as of March 2019 compared to 2000. Montreal had an approximate 189% increase, Vancouver increased by about 315.6%

will cost you $2,259.77. If rates go up to say 4%, that same mortgage will cost you $3,008.

Now, let’s get crazy and horrified at the same time. If the mortgage rates increases to 14% which is what myself and many others remember paying in 1988, that mortgage will cost you $6,714.57. Yikes! (faint) Besides Covid 19, what else causes housing prices to escalate?

• A large influx of immigrants, whether they come from out of the country or within the country needing housing • Canadians owning more than one house, speculatively investing in properties (buying a property as an investment, waiting for its price to increase, then selling it off which runs up prices) • Foreign or vacant home investment, as well as a lack of supply to meet the demand.

Whether Canadians are opting to own a property or rent an apartment, there is a severe lack of affordable options for people looking for a home.

With many house listings as high as a million dollars, people are struggling more now than ever before – particularly among the millennial demographic. Affordable housing is not always affordable to everyone (or even most), so when you hear the government is helping a developer to build affordable housing, ask ‘for whom’?

In Peterborough, the average price of homes sold in January 2021 was a record $626,414, a large increase of 30.9% from January 2020.

These real estate stats lead to higher rates of homelessness or forces people to live much further away from work, (refer to the facebook thread) leading to problems like urban sprawl which slows down traffic and puts too much stress on public transit. And don’t even get me started on today’s lumber prices if building a home is in your future.

So you bought a house for that $600,000, minus your 10% down payment, today your mortgage rate is 1.4% and your 5 year locked in mortgage

We met a couple from Holland where housing is terribly expensive. They explained that it often takes 2 generations to pay off their mortgage.

Are Canadians headed in that direction?

Peterborough Realty Inc. Brokerage 3.9% full MLS Commission www.homesinpeterborough.com

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Home Inspections

By Steve Irvine Home Sweet Home Inspections

Can I Get An Inspection In A Bidding War? Trying to get an inspection in bidding wars has become almost impossible. If you put in a conditional

clause there is a good chance that your offer will not be considered by the seller. So, how do you protect yourself and avoid the big problems? I’ve been doing 30 minute to 1 hour pre-offer inspections for about 1/2 the cost of a full inspection.

In a full inspection timeline I would open & close each window, kitchen cupboard and drawer. I test every electrical outlet that I can access. I would check every heating vent for proper air flow. The explanations are more in depth. It’s an involved process that lasts 2-1/2 to 3 hours.

For a shorter inspection timeline, I go through the house quickly looking for big ticket items. The roof, exterior and structure are looked at. I’ll open the electrical panel, but not test every plug. The furnace and if possible by exterior temperature, the air conditioner are inspected. The attic is looked at for insulation, ventilation and leaks. I look for plumbing leaks, loose toilets and run a moisture meter over the tiled enclosures in showers and bathtubs to make sure no moisture is getting through. Basement leaks are also checked. Like I said, it’s just looking at the big stuff. At least you have an idea what your buying.

Some go well, but some have obvious issues. I had one recently that was going to need +50k in repairs.

You don’t want to place a bid on a house at top dollar and then find that out once you move in.

As I am not doing a full inspection, there is no full report. Liability laws still exist. I encourage you to take notes or record the process. Ask your agent if Inspectors in your area are offering these services.

Doing what I can, however I can, to protect buyers during pandemic times. www.steveirvine.ca

steve.irvine.1960@gmail.com

FB Steve Irvine’s Home Sweet Home Inspections Inc.

Googlyness!

Creativity on Instagram!

By Karen Irvine

We met the curator of Googlyness, whose posts on Instagram brighten my day. She says, “Googlyness is a

manifestation of the joy I find in the world. After a decade of being bed bound with disabling illness, I was able to return to some aspects of Peterborough community life. My perspective of the world was literally changed for me during this time and the opportunities for faces are now more numerous thanks to my newfound heights. While I still struggle with my illnesses, my good days are filled with arting and mirth and making once again. Googly eyes make everything better, maybe even Covid-19”. To follow Googlyness on Instagram, go to www.instagram.com/googlyness. Look around - you may just see some while strolling through Peterborough!

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Organize your life

10 minute organizing - solutions made simple Nicole Cooke Organized by Design

Spring is here! It’s time for spring cleaning! We have been through a lot over the past year, so

the thought of purging and organizing may seem overwhelming right now. These quick organizing jobs will make you feel like you have made progress without a huge time investment. With that in mind, I have developed a list of 10-minute jobs that will help whittle away at this project. front hall closet Remove winter essentials and purge any with broken zippers, tears, etc. Store them in totes in the basement, attic or in under bed storage. Make sure to launder these items first so they are fresh when you pull them out in the fall. Wipe down winter boots and store in totes. Use Command Hooks to hang umbrellas to keep them off the floor. A quick vacuum in the bottom of the closet will remove sand and dirt. If you don’t have boot trays in the bottom of the closet, now is the time to buy them! bedroom closet floor Bedroom closets can be a bigger job (1-2 hours to sort and purge clothes), but clearing out the bottom of the closet makes a huge difference! Empty all contents, dispose of dry cleaning bags, hangers, etc. Switch to fabric coated hangers to help keep them in place. Vacuum bottom of closet, then begin returning items. Put shoes in clear shoebox sized bins with lids to stack on the floor or top shelf. Nest luggage cases so they take up less floor space. Put most items on the upper shelf rather than the floor. purse/backpacks These are a catch-all for our day to day living.

Empty, disposing of garbage and recycling. Sort receipts. Secure with a paper clip or put in an envelope if you need to keep to return items. Put loose change in a wallet or pouch car Empty garbage and recycling. Put any items of clothing, books, toys, etc. in the house. Fold reusable grocery bags and store them together in one bag (a Command Hook can be useful in the back of a van or SUV). Keep a box in the trunk that contains 40

wiper fluid, emergency car kit, bandages, etc. Make sure you have wipes and masks handy (dollar store hooks for car headrests are great).

Owners manuals / warranties info Most manuals are now available online, so only keep manuals for items that are still under warranty. Staple the warranty receipt to the manual and put it in a binder in a plastic sleeve.

Happy Organizing!

Follow Nicole FaceBook & Instagram @organizedbydesign www.organizedbydesign.co

making a difference

Tim Mak: compassion in our community

Tim Mak, owner of EyeTech VisionCare didn’t start out

By Karen Irvine

working as an Optician. At the age of 18 while working in a coffee shop, a man came in and asked Tim why he should buy a coffee from him instead of a less expensive place. Tim spent an hour and a half explaining why.

The man left and a short time later came back, gave Tim a business card and said, “If you ever want a career change, come talk to me.” The man was an Optician, and that’s how Tim’s journey began.

His love for being an Optician was validated by a mother who brought her 3 year old daughter in for an exam. The little girl had never had her eyes checked before. Tim placed the new glasses on her face and saw her eyes light up with a big smile. “That’s why I do this. When you see their faces light up, I feel like, I can’t believe I can make them so happy. Especially when they see their mom’s face clearly. It’s worth all the work. That’s a gift of clarity,” he says. Tim is more laid back, community minded person. So Tim sold up in Markham and moved to Peterborough. Opening up his own store was an easy choice. He says, “I don’t want to charge customers an arm and a leg for a nice pair of glasses that they are comfortable with and will wear. I want the price to be reasonable. I’m looking at the longevity of repeat customers.”

Tim is a great addition to the community. On his day off, he volunteers at retirement homes giving free repairs and adjustments. He says, “A lot of times, individuals in retirement homes don’t have access to funding. If they are in need, I will make a new set for them. I’ve only been in Peterborough for 5 years, but since moving here, I’ve received and seen the wonderful community spirit, and it’s important to give back.” Tim was inducted into the Lions Club in 2020 where he also volunteers.

“When you come in, you get treated like family. We don’t pressure anyone. We want everyone to be happy,” he says. Tim has created a wonderful atmosphere. Customers are definitely loving it - some come back just to say hi and bring treats for the staff.

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HOME Silver Linings

by Danielle French South Pond Farms www.southpondfarms.ca

Amidst the whirlwind of our world right now, I’m intent - and content - just keeping my head

down, trying to put some of the news out of my mind - no matter how difficult it is to keep all the noise at a distance. I’m looking out for the silver linings. There are a few to be sure. The change in season for one. I was expecting the cold and mud season to last much longer but early warm weather, wind and little rain dried up all the muddy areas quickly. It is easy to leave the world behind when I can do something outside, get into the soil and garden, clean up the property and begin to plan for visitors when they can come back to the farm.

SIGNS OF LIFE During one of my winter walks I was thinking about how fortunate I am to have all of this nature around me and how much better I feel about all things when I am immersed in it. Every day there are signs of things living. The ice went out on the pond and almost instantly, bird life returned. We have a swan family come back every year, usually not this early and it’s a pleasure to see them out.

I’m sure we shall see some little baby’s soon. The surface of the water is awash with frog eggs and other forms of life. At the other end, I see a beaver who is making a home which is not such a good thing as the pond depends on water flowing down the stream to fill another pond nearby.

But it is a sign of things moving about and never stagnant both on the water and in the forest.

NEW GROWTH Moody Days Wild leeks are shooting through the dead leaves a perfect omelette. Everywhere, there is some- they alone are the solitary green right now thing growing and something for my plate. other than the moss on fallen wood. The smell of the earth soft with moisture is intoxicating. The SHARING THE LAND taste of the wild leeks reminds me that the sea- I am hoping that soon visitors will be allowed to son has changed and from here on in and over come by the farm and order the Country Picnics the next many months, fresh greens will be on that I have on offer for this summer. Guests will my plate. I’m grateful for the rainy days now in be able to pick up their picnic which is filled with April, gloomy and moody but promising new local goodies and stroll about on the farm and growth everywhere in the next few weeks. see what I see and be out on the land. Even for I invested the time last fall putting the garden’s those living in towns or cities there are walks in property to bed with extra mulch, planting nature to be had. I know how much I apprecinative grasses in open spots and removing the ate it and how much of the world it helps me unwanted weed growth. I’m happy to report filter when I need to just feel quiet. It’s the time that it doesn’t give me stress now in the spring of year where I get to share my little spot of fortune and peace with others. to clean it up - it’s looking pretty good. I have new herbs peeking through, chives, sorrel both Danielle French is the owner of South Pond Farms red veined and green, chervil -all the makings of in the Bethany Hills. www.southpondfarms.ca 42

DREW'S CHICKS Renting Chicks since 2020

by Karen Irvine

Drew McFadden bought two Cochin chickens from Millbrook Fair in 2019 at age 14. In October 2020, the inception of the business came when Drew’s Uncle Lanny asked to borrow a couple of chicks and became Drew’s first customer.

Drew is the son of Scott McFadden, Mayor of Cavan Monaghan Township who, by the way, is extremely proud of his son.

The concept is genius. Chicks get rented out with all the food and bedding required. They are a mix of barnyard chickens, not just Cochins. They are only rented once, and then go into the coop on the farm. Cost for a 2-week period is $50 for chicks and $100 for ducks.

Drew started with 5 kits and now has 40. He has rented out over 200 kits.

His customers are mostly parents with children ages 5-13 who want to give their children the experience of looking after a pet without the commitment.

The original two Cochins

Drew still has the two Cochin chickens that started the business. He says, “I’m using the money to pay for college,” and adds, “It’s definitely a lot of work but it keeps me busy”. If you are looking to rent, book now - there is a waiting list!

Go to Drews Chicks on FaceBook to book your chicks.

The Peterborough Museum & Archives presents:

The world is full of colours, and they influence us in many ways. Do you know how they affect you?

Using the Peterborough Museum & Archives' collection, this exhibit will take you on a journey through history to discover just how much colours impact our lives Keep an eye on the Museum's website for a virtual presentation of this exhibit!

On display until September 12, 2021

Visits by appointment only.

Check our website for updates on open hours, and what to know before you visit.

300 Hunter Street East, Peterborough ON peterboroughmuseumandarchives.ca Telephone: 705-743-5180

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Pets of the Kawarthas Pawty at the Park 5 tips to make your trip to the Dog Park safe and fun!

By Karen Laws www.ontariodogtrainer.com

Are you heading to the Dog Park for a romp with your furry pal? Here are five tips to help you and your dog to enjoy the Pawty!

STICK TO A DAILY ROUTINE!

People and dogs are creatures of habit. Taking your dog to the park at the same time each day improves your dog’s chances of being accepted into the social pack of that time. In addition, your dog will love playing with friends at the same time each day. To improve your dog’s inclusion into the group, do some scouting before you arrive with your dog to learn the dynamics of the group.

YOU MOVE TOO!

Once inside the park, remove your dog’s leash and keep moving with purpose, around the perimeter of the park. When your dog sees that you are ‘going places’ they will want to join you!

They will sniff along the way, even while playing with their friends. If you stop moving, the risks of dogs ‘packing up’ increases and trouble (aka fights) can happen. When you KEEP MOVING your dog keeps moving and the risk of conflict is reduced.

LEAVE TOYS AT HOME!

Not all dogs are willing to share. Toys at a dog park can create unwanted competition between dogs and increase the risk of dog fights, or worse, a person getting bit. Keep dogs and people safe by leaving toys at home.

HANDS OFF!

Resist the urge to pet or treat any dog at the park – including yours. The dog that you are petting may be attacked by others out of jealousy or possessiveness.

COMMON SENSE and COURTESY

Keep your dog’s vaccinations up to date for protection against easily transmitted viruses such as kennel cough. If your dog has diarrhea or other signs of illness, stay home to prevent spreading disease and parasites to other dogs. Dog park use is a privilege - Always STOOP AND SCOOP to keep the area clean for all, and to prevent the spread of disease.

Check out www.ontariodogtrainer.com to learn more 46

VETS corner Socializing your puppy

By Dr. Kelly Wasylciw, Veterinary Services

Congratulations! You have gotten a new puppy! Typically, you are welcoming an eight week old

puppy into your life, after it has spent some time with its mother at the breeders. This does not mean that the puppy hasn’t learned anything new before coming to its new home. The most influential time for a puppy to be socialized is from about three weeks until around twenty-four weeks of age.

The key for socialization is to make it fun! Give your puppy lots of praise, treats, love and positive attitude during this time in their lives. If you are nervous, your puppy will be nervous as well and this could affect them for the rest of their life.

THREE TO EIGHT WEEKS During this period, puppies are learning how to interact with their mother, their siblings and people.

This is a critical time for them to learn how to interact with strangers. Most breeders know this and work with their puppies to introduce them to new people, new places and new experiences in those new places before they move in with their new family. If you get a new puppy younger than this, (due to circumstances that create this necessity), remember to introduce your puppy to as many new things as possible.

EIGHT TO TWELVE WEEKS This may seem like the worst time to get a puppy because it is seen as their ‘fear’ period. However, this doesn’t mean that you shouldn’t socialize your puppy! During this time it helps train them to stay close to you and trust you over anyone else. They will still want to see new things, try new things and meet new people, but may hesitate more at the start. Puppies may look at you to see how you are reacting to this novel person, place or thing. If you are acting calm or excited and praise the puppy, they will learn there is nothing to fear. They are basing their opinion on your reactions. Examples of items to introduce during this time are vacuum cleaners, mops, brooms, garbage bags and other loud noises that may be typical around the house.

Introduce them to everything that you can possibly think of.

It is also the best time to sign up for a puppy socialization class if you don’t have a lot of other dogs/people to help with socialization. Always research before signing up to ensure the instructor knows what they are doing, will help keep this experience positive for your puppy, and ensuring the space will keep your puppy safe from any potential diseases.

TWELVE TO TWENTY-FOUR WEEKS Your puppy is starting to get over their ‘fear’ period. They may start to move further away from you when exploring new things and will be much more curious on their own. Continue educating during this time and allow them more stimulus at once. This can help your puppy adapt to new situations and aid in their development. Remain positive, give lots of praise and rewards.

When puppy is around sixteen weeks old and fully vaccinated, sign up for more classes and really dig into the training you want to do with your puppy. This is important, as it will help you train your puppy with distractions and will aid in getting over any hurdles that you may have.

The information provide above is simply a snippet of the information available to owners. If you are interested in further information regarding socialization, please visit the Canadian Kennel Club as they have some great resources to help you on your way!

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