DARRYL KNIGHT Local Journalism Initiative Reporter for The Standard BROCK: The sights, sounds and traditions of autumn will return to Beaverton this weekend as the Beaverton Fall Fair brings two days of agriculture, entertainment, competition and community celebration to the fairgrounds. The annual fair runs on Friday, September 18th and Saturday, September 19th, offering something for visitors of all ages, from livestock and homecraft exhibits to live entertainment, children

DARRYL KNIGHT Local Journalism Initiative Reporter for The Standard SCUGOG: There was hardly a cloud in the sky as the sights, sounds, and smells of the Port Perry Fair filled the Fairgrounds over Labour Day weekend. With beautiful summer weather providing the backdrop, thousands of fairgoers had plenty of reasons to linger, from the midway and live entertainment to livestock competitions, tractor pulls, rodeo action, and one of the community’s most anticipated annual demolit

DARRYL KNIGHT Local Journalism Initiative Reporter for The Standard UXBRIDGE: The midway lights will soon be glowing, tractors will be rumbling, and the sounds of livestock, live entertainment, and excited fairgoers will once again fill Uxbridge’s Elgin Park. The Uxbridge Fall Fair returns, from Friday, September 11th to Sunday, September 13th, bringing with it a packed three-day schedule, celebrating agriculture, local talent, competition, and one of Uxbridge’s favourite lat

DARRYL KNIGHT Local Journalism Initiative Reporter for The Standard SCUGOG: The sound of engines roaring, the midway coming to life, and the unmistakable buzz of a late-summer fair will soon fill the air in Port Perry. However, this year, the Port Perry Fair is getting started a little earlier. For the first time, the Fair is adding a Friday night concert to its Labour Day weekend festivities, bringing country music stars 'the James Barker Band' to town, with special guest Ro

DARRYL KNIGHT Local Journalism Initiative Reporter for The Standard SCUGOG: Sunshine, warm temperatures, and plenty of community spirit combined Saturday, to make the 159th annual Blackstock Fair a memorable celebration of rural tradition. With temperatures reaching the mid-twenties, under beautiful sunny skies, families, farmers, exhibitors, and visitors made their way to the Blackstock Recreation Centre and Fairgrounds, on August 29th, for the one-day celebration. From earl

PAM PUTMAN-KIMMETT Outreach Team, Cambridge Street United Church KAWARTHA LAKES: Cambridge Street United Church, Lindsay, is partnering with local supporters to help the Canadian Foodgrains Bank to provide “A Christian Response to World Hunger”. Ten acres of soybeans have been planted near Oakwood, with funds raised by the church, on farmland donated by the Bruce VandenBerg family, and with help from local suppliers, namely: Huitson Farms AgriServices, in care of Bayer; Littl

DARRYL KNIGHT Local Journalism Initiative Reporter for The Standard SCUGOG: For nearly 160 years, the Blackstock Fair has brought the community together to celebrate agriculture, local talent, and the traditions which make rural life such an important part of Scugog’s identity. That tradition continues, on Saturday, August 29th, when the 159th annual Blackstock Fair welcomes families, farmers, exhibitors and visitors to the Blackstock Fairgrounds, for a full day of competitio

COLLEEN GREEN The Standard SCUGOG: The agricultural community is mourning the loss of one of its longtime supporters, following the passing of Keith Frederick Phoenix, who died peacefully at his home, on Tuesday, August 4th, at the age of 79. For decades, Mr. Phoenix was a familiar face throughout Scugog's farming community, dedicating his life to agriculture and the dairy industry. Farming was more than a career, it was a lifelong passion for him which reflected his unwaveri

UXBRIDGE: The sights and sounds of Ontario's agricultural past came to life on Sunday, July 19, as visitors gathered at the Lewis Family farm for the annual Lewis Family Threshing Day. The popular event showcased antique farm equipment, vintage tractors and traditional farming demonstrations, giving families an opportunity to experience how crops were harvested and processed before modern machinery transformed agriculture. One of the highlights included horse-drawn plowing de

By Colleen Green, The Standard SCUGOG: The future of the Port Perry Fairgrounds remains uncertain after the Township of Scugog Council voted to defer consideration of the Port Perry Fairgrounds Visioning Exercise Final Report until the first quarter of 2027, leaving long-term plans for the site in limbo. Council chambers were filled to capacity during the July 13th meeting, with residents turning out in large numbers to voice concerns over the future of the fairgrounds and th

DARRYL KNIGHT Local Journalism Initiative Reporter for The Standard SCUGOG: The sights and sounds of horns, sirens, and heavy equipment will once again fill the Port Perry Fairgrounds, as the popular Port Perry Touch-a-Truck returns, on Friday, July 10th, promising an evening of hands-on family fun, supporting a worthy local cause. The event will run from 4 to 8 p.m. The 3rd Annual Port Perry Touch-a-Truck, presented by Brass Inc., invites children and adults, alike, to climb

COLLEEN GREEN The Standard Summer has arrived, and with it comes one of Ontario's most beloved seasonal traditions—strawberry picking. Across Kawartha Lakes and Durham Region, local farms are welcoming visitors to their fields, offering families a chance to enjoy fresh air, beautiful countryside, and baskets full of ripe, juicy strawberries. Pick-your-own strawberry farms provide a fun and affordable family outing. Children enjoy searching for the biggest berries, while adult

MARY MEYER Blackstock Agricultural Society SCUGOG: This year marks a major milestone, as the Blackstock Truck and Tractor Pull celebrates its 50th anniversary. What began as an idea, in 1976, has grown into one of Ontario's best pulling events, drawing competitors and spectators from across the province. The vision belonged to Harvey Graham, who attended a truck and tractor pull in Western Ontario and believed the Blackstock Fairgrounds would be the perfect place to host a si

BRANDON CLARK The Standard SCUGOG: On Wednesday, May 13th, Darwin Pivot J.L Richards & Associates visited Scugog Council Chambers in Port Perry to hold a 'Your Voice, Your Fairgrounds' interactive open house and workshop for attendees. The day was broken into three sessions: 11 a.m. to 1 p.m., 1:30 to 3:30 p.m., and 6 to 8 p.m. Attendees were given packets which contained concepts for the fairgrounds' future. The packet also includes spaces for attendees to write down feedbac

DARRYL KNIGHT Local Journalism Initiative Reporter for The Standard SCUGOG: Fresh ideas, as well as some lingering concerns, are expected to surface as the Township of Scugog prepares to host a new round of community workshops, focused on the future of the Port Perry Fairgrounds. Set for Wednesday, May 13th, at the Township Municipal Office, the sessions mark the next phase of the “Your Voice, Your Fairgrounds” community visioning exercise. Residents will get their first look

One of Ontario’s most historic paddling events is back. The 46th annual Marsh Mash will hit the water on Saturday, May 9th, welcoming canoeists, kayakers, stand-up paddleboarders, and outrigger paddlers from across the province. The canal, which surrounds the Holland Marsh, provides one of the best canoe racing courses in Ontario. Marsh Mash offers a wide range of recreational and competitive race categories. Distances range from five kilometres to 28 km, including adult and

DARRYL KNIGHT, Local Journalism Initiative Reporter for The Standard KAWARTHA LAKES: 2025 was a year defined by extremes, and a financial balancing act few municipalities ever face. A report, presented at the Tuesday, April 21st council meeting, detailed how a series of severe weather events and economic pressures pushed the municipality toward a potential $44 million deficit in 2025. In the end, staff outlined a plan to absorb the hit through reserves, rather than passing th

SCUGOG: The township of Port Perry is set to become an international hotspot for equestrian sport this spring, as Restoration Ranch welcomes riders, from across North America, for a four-day Working Equitation event, from May 28th to May 31st. The show will serve as a critical qualifying event, for the World Equitation Games, scheduled to take place in Spain this September. Hosted by Working Equitation Canada (WECAN), the event will feature riders, from Ontario, Vermont, Nort

Darryl Knight – Local Journalism Initiative Reporter / Brandon Clark – The Standard News SCUGOG: Plans to develop a long-term vision for the Port Perry Fairgrounds are moving into their next stage following strong community participation in the first round of public consultation. At a special meeting on Monday, March 9th, Scugog council reviewed an interim report on the “Your Voice, Your Fairgrounds” land-use visioning project and agreed to move the process forward as the c

DARRYL KNIGHT Local Journalism Initiative Reporter for The Standard SCUGOG: Agriculture remains a driving force in Durham Region’s rural communities, and members of the Durham Agricultural Advisory Committee (DAAC) brought that message to council, during their annual update, on Monday, February 23rd. Matt Somerville and Nicole Swain outlined the committee’s ongoing work and the major issues currently facing the agricultural sector, emphasizing DAAC’s role as a key advisory