DARRYL KNIGHT The Standard BROCK: Progress continues on the long-anticipated replacement of the Beaver River Bridge in Beaverton, as the Region of Durham advances regulatory steps required under federal legislation and prepares for construction to begin next year. The Region has submitted detailed information about the project to the Navigable Waters Registry, as required under the Canadian Navigable Waters Act. The submission, now open for public comment, outlines the proj

DARRYL KNIGHT The Standard SCUGOG: For fans flipping through the Port Perry LumberJacks gameday program this season, one section has quickly become a favourite. The “Where Are They Now?” feature has struck a chord by doing more than revisiting old stats or familiar names, it has highlighted the deep, lasting bond between the team, its alumni and the wider Scugog community. Each week, the feature profiles a former player and explores where life has taken them since their junio

DARRYL KNIGHT Local Journalism Initiative Reporter for The Standard KAWARTHA LAKES: As many tractors sit idle between seasons and winter planning takes shape around kitchen tables and barn offices, Kawartha Lakes is inviting the people behind the region’s food system to help shape what comes next. A new Agriculture and Food Action Plan survey is now open, giving farmers, agri-businesses, food producers, and community members the opportunity to share their experiences, challe

DARRYL KNIGHT The Standard Rivalries, special teams, and strong goaltending were all on display over the weekend as the three local Provincial Junior Hockey League (PJHL) clubs packed plenty of drama into a schedule that was ultimately cut short by winter weather. The action began Friday night in Uxbridge, where the Bruins delivered a statement performance at the Bear Den, shutting out the Clarington Eagles 4–0. Uxbridge controlled the pace early and leaned heavily on its pow

DARRYL KNIGHT Local Journalism Initiative Reporter for The Standard BROCK: Plans for new public washrooms at Beaverton Harbour are moving forward, after Council directed staff to hire Flexcell Engineering Inc. to begin design work and soil testing. The decision was made at Council’s regular meeting, on Monday, January 12th, following the presentation of a report, from, Director of Parks, Recreation and Facilities, Wayne Ward which outlined the results of a competitive tender

DARRYL KNIGHT The Standard HALIBURTON/SCUGOG: One of Ontario’s most distinctive winter motorsports traditions is preparing to celebrate a major milestone. Ice racing in Minden will mark its 50th anniversary, during the 2026 season, celebrating five decades of competition, camaraderie, and cold-weather thrills. The roots of Minden ice racing stretch back to the mid-1970s, when races were first held on frozen swampland. By the late 1970s, the event found a permanent home at th

DARRYL KNIGHT Local Journalism Initiative Reporter for The Standard BROCK: Community history and heritage preservation were front and centre, at Brock Township Council’s meeting, on Monday, January 12th, as the Beaverton Thorah Eldon Historical Society presented plans for its upcoming 50th anniversary. Society president, Paula Warder delivered the delegation, outlining the organization’s roots, milestones, and the vision for the future they see for the Beaver River Museum wh

DARRYL KNIGHT Local Journalism Initiative Reporter for The Standard KAWARTHA LAKES: Efforts to advance reconciliation with Indigenous communities took a formal step forward, on Tuesday, January 13th, as council reviewed the proposed Terms of Reference for a new Indigenous Reconciliation Strategy Task Force. The volunteer group will help guide the development of the City of Kawartha Lakes’ upcoming Indigenous Reconciliation Strategy. The report, presented by Emily Turner, Econ

DARRYL KNIGHT The Standard Local junior hockey talent took centre ice, Sunday, January 11th, as players from Uxbridge, Port Perry, and Little Britain showcased their skills at the Provincial Junior Hockey League’s (PJHL) annual All-Star Game. This season, the PJHL hosted four all-star games: East, West, North, and South Conferences, each offering home-ice advantage in the provincial quarterfinals. In Trent Hills, the Orr Division faced off against the Tod Division, with the T

DARRYL KNIGHT Local Journalism Initiative Reporter for The Standard SCUGOG: A celebration of local athletic achievement and community pride will take centre stage this spring, as the Scugog Sports Hall of Fame (SHOF) prepares to welcome its newest class of inductees. The Hall of Fame’s 18th annual induction ceremony will be held, on Thursday, April 23rd, at the Scugog Community Recreation Centre, bringing together athletes, coaches, families and fans, to honour those who ha

DARRYL KNIGHT Local Journalism Initiative Reporter for The Standard KAWARTHA LAKES : On a chilly January morning, in Lindsay, Simone Watts stepped outside to find her usual blue box pickup hadn’t happened. A few empty beer bottles sat awkwardly beside the bin, reminders of a new rule she hadn’t quite wrapped her head around. “I thought these went in the blue box, like before,” she said, picking them up. “Turns out, they have to go to a separate program now. It’s a bit confus

DARRYL KNIGHT Local Journalism Initiative Reporter for The Standard BROCK: Early results from Brock Township’s Downtown Community Improvement Plan (CIP) suggest the program is already making a visible impact on local main streets, helping to encourage reinvestment and refresh the look of downtown areas. The update was outlined in a recent staff report, presented by, Director of Development Services, Robin Prentice, detailing activity since the updated Downtown CIP was appro

DARRYL KNIGHT Local Journalism Initiative Reporter for The Standard BROCK: Volunteers, Township staff, and conservation partners came together, this past autumn, to plant 100 native trees and shrubs along the banks of the Beaver River, at MacLeod Park. A testament to the growing partnership between the Cannington Horticultural Society (CHS) and Brock Township. An October 18th, 2025 planting event, aided by the Township with mulch, and by the Lake Simcoe Region Conservation A

DARRYL KNIGHT Local Journalism Initiative Reporter for The Standard BROCK: As Ontario prepares to welcome back the Northlander passenger train, the release of the revived service’s proposed schedule has reignited calls, in Beaverton, for a long-sought return to the passenger rail map. Ontario Northland recently announced details of the restored Northlander service, which will operate between Toronto’s Union Station and Timmins, with a rail connection to Cochrane. The return

DARRYL KNIGHT Local Journalism Initiative Reporter for The Standard KAWARTHA LAKES: On a crisp winter afternoon, this past Tuesday, December 16th, in downtown Lindsay, time folded in on itself. Beneath the Eternal Flame in Queen’s Square, a small metal capsule, sealed 25 years ago, waited quietly for its moment. Children, who had placed it there: Reenie Brydon, Mathew Kent, and Caelin Nesbit, all of them now adults, approached it with a mixture of wonder and nostalgia, thei

DARRYL KNIGHT Local Journalism Initiative Reporter for The Standard BROCK: Residents looking to kick off the new year with a more organized home will have an opportunity to do so, in an eco-friendly way, at an upcoming Home Organization Swap, in the Sunderland Branch of the Brock Township Public Library. The swap will be held, on Saturday, January 24th, from 11 a.m. to 1 p.m. at the Sunderland Branch. Community members are invited to exchange gently used home-organization i

DARRYL KNIGHT Local Journalism Initiative Reporter for The Standard KAWARTHA LAKES/BROCK: Sunday, December 28th, arrived with an uneasy quiet, across Kawartha Lakes and the Township of Brock. The sky was gray, the air sharp with winter cold, and the forecast promised a coating of freezing rain which had residents remembering last spring’s ice storm: downed trees, power outages, and days of cleanup. People checked their driveways, prepared their sidewalks, and wondered: would

DARRYL KNIGHT Local Journalism Initiative Reporter for The Standard SCUGOG: With winter settling in, along the shores of Lake Scugog, a favourite seasonal attraction is once again welcoming skaters of all ages. Lakefront Skate, in Port Perry, is officially open, offering free outdoor skating seven days a week, from 10 a.m. to 10 p.m., at Joe Fowler North Diamond, located next to Palmer Park. The rink, part of the Lakefront Skate and Market area, is designed to be a fun, inc

DARRYL KNIGHT Local Initiative Reporter for The Standard SCUGOG: A community-led vision, for the future of the Blackstock Arena, was brought before Township of Scugog council recently, as a delegation called on the municipality to partner with residents, to revitalize the aging facility and secure its long-term future. Kirk Swain, Mike Blakey and Rob Harvey addressed council, at their meeting on Monday, December 9th, on behalf of the newly formed Blackstock Arena Planning and

DARRYL KNIGHT Local Journalism Initiative Reporter for The Standard KAWARTHA LAKES: Residents’ concerns about the condition of their local roads are shaping a new approach to road planning, in the City of Kawartha Lakes, following Council’s support of the Roads Task Force recommendations, at its meeting on Tuesday, December 9th. Councillor Mike Perry told Council, the Task Force focused less on technical processes and more on how residents experience their roads every day.