JAMIE STEEL Senior Lead of Community Relations, Ampere KAWARTHA LAKES: Ampere invites people of all ages to join fellow community members for STEAM Fest, a free, family-focused celebration featuring live music, diverse food, a vendor market, and tons of art, science, engineering, and technology activities. The second annual STEAM Fest promises to be a bigger, bolder celebration of Science, Technology, Engineering, Arts, and Math (STEAM). It will be held at Ampere’s Lindsay Ma

by Geoffrey Carpentier From time immemorial, humans have looked to nature to adorn themselves, perhaps to just offset the mundane parts of their difficult lives, or more likely to make themselves more attractive to their partners. Beads made from seed pods or berries, flowers, shells, bits of bone or feathers to adorn the hair and small pieces of wood were shaped into appealing decorative items. This trend has continued to the present day and will assuredly persist for eons.

by Helen Nicolaou July marks the middle of the summer season, with garden foliage filling in open spaces and a wide assortment of flowers to admire. Although the bloom of a daylily only lasts the day, there are many blooms maturing on a scape which will last for several weeks in the garden. It's a good idea, while walking through the garden, to assess the growth of perennials, as they have matured, and decide if some trimming back of spent blooms and over-growth will help wit

by Geoffrey Carpentier It’s not hard to imagine why we might be speaking about forest fires right now. Our skies are clouded with smoke which has travelled thousands of kilometres, homesteads in the north are gone or threatened and people displaced to cities and towns far from home. I think we understand why our skies are smoke filled, as it’s relatively simple – lots of fires, lots of smoke and winds which have driven them both towards us. The other day, as my wife and I sto

NANCY NEWTON Soroptimist International of Kawartha Lakes KAWARTHA LAKES: Four young women graduating from our local high schools were recognized, in June, for their peer leadership, with the Soroptimist Positive Influence Award, from Soroptimist International of Kawartha Lakes. Soroptimist International of Kawartha Lakes joins with the schools in their annual recognition activities, by presenting the award to a female graduating student, from each of the city’s four secondary

by Lauren Walker We know exercise is beneficial for aiding an injury or chronic joint pain. However, how do you get moving without causing further damage? Well, that's part of my job. You can move any injury, within its limitations, but it must be done wisely. Here's how I've assessed my clients: Is this chronic or a one time occurrence? There's a difference between chronic joint pain and a one time injury. If a client slipped off a curb and twisted their knee, it may cause t

by Linda Story UXBRIDGE: With a beaming smile, Kathryn Sunn graciously accepted the Marion Cassie Memorial Scholarship at the Uxbridge Secondary School (USS) Commencement ceremony, on June 25th, at Uxbridge Arena. Ms. Sunn received her award in front of a standing-room-only audience who witnessed more than 250 graduates receive their diplomas. In order to receive the Marion Cassie Memorial Scholarship, applicants must have a successful skating career with the Uxbridge Skating

by Geoffrey Carpentier I remember, as a kid, spending countless summer hours fishing and enjoying nature. One thing I recall encountering, with some frequency, were the dark black mussel shells which littered the lake and river bottom, once the living organism inside had died. They were simply a curiosity to me, and a hindrance at the time, as I often cut my foot on their sharp edges. Many years later, as I revisit some of my childhood memories, I now wonder how these animals

DARRYL KNIGHT Local Journalism Initiative Reporter for The Standard KAWARTHA LAKES: A renewed partnership between the City of Kawartha Lakes and BGC Kawarthas will help ensure youth, families, and children continue to have access to important programs and services across the municipality, for years to come. At a recent meeting, on Tuesday, June 23rd, councillors approved a refreshed Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with BGC Kawarthas, replacing the original agreement signed

DARRYL KNIGHT Local Journalism Initiative Reporter for The Standard SCUGOG: Families across Scugog will once again have access to a summer favourite, as the Township’s Park and Play program returns for another season of free recreation activities, for local children. Running weekdays, from July 6th to August 28th, Park and Play brings the excitement of Camp Scugog directly into neighbourhood parks, offering games, sports, crafts, themed activities and more, for children aged

DARRYL KNIGHT Local Journalism Initiative Reporter for The Standard KAWARTHA LAKES: Young readers across Kawartha Lakes are invited to make a splash this summer, as Kawartha Lakes Public Library launches its 2026 Summer Reading Club, a season-long program, designed to inspire a love of reading, while keeping children and families engaged through fun activities and community events. This year's theme, “Dive In,” draws inspiration from the lakes, rivers, and waterways which hel

by Lauren Walker So what do you do when your Instagram video takes off? I posted a video on my Instagram page, @theartistwithin86, and it blew up past my wildest expectations. By the time this article gets published, I'll have almost 3 million views. It is overwhelming, to say the least. Uncharted Territory This is uncharted territory for me. I believe these moments are rare and fleeting, so I feel like I'm riding a wave, until it settles back in to the vast social media ocea

by Geoffrey Carpentier Wind turbines have become one of the most visible symbols of the clean energy transition, worldwide, with the goal of shifting away from fossil fuels and toward a low carbon future. Still, wind turbines can have significant negative environmental impacts. For many people, these turbines raise a troubling question: What about the impacts on birds and bats? Wind power and wildlife conservation are often portrayed as opposing forces, since migration patter

DARRYL KNIGHT Local Journalism Initiative Reporter for The Standard NORTH DURHAM: Families looking for an affordable way to enjoy the outdoors this summer will have two opportunities to cast a line in the waters without purchasing a fishing licence, as Ontario’s annual Free Fishing Weekends return, later this month. Anglers of all ages can fish for free, during Father’s Day Weekend, on June 20th and 21st, followed by Family Fishing Week, from June 27th to July 5th. The initia

by Geoffrey Carpentier I had the good fortune to spend much of the winter in very tropical areas, with daytime temperatures often well into the high 30s. Arriving home, I was anxious for a different kind of warm though. I longed for the wonderful spring temperatures I grew up with, cool nights and lovely warm summery days. Well, it seems for 2026, at least, that didn’t happen. On May 21st, we had frost warnings, not unheard of but, certainly not anticipated nor welcome! My bi

As Canadians prepare to mark National Indigenous Peoples Day, on June 21st, communities across the country are being encouraged to celebrate the rich cultures, traditions, languages and contributions of First Nations, Inuit and Métis peoples. For generations, the longest day of the year has been a time for gatherings, ceremonies and celebrations. In recognition of this importance, the Government of Canada officially designated June 21st as National Aboriginal Day, in 1996. Th

by Jay Thibert NDN Africa is famous for its large mammals, and many tourists go there to get a firsthand view of some of their spectacular beasts. However, there are many other amazing animals to be seen there, in particular a great diversity of birds. James and Lynda Kamstra took just such a trip through the Serengeti Plains and some of the great national parks of Kenya and Tanzania. The wildlife was awesome with the Great migration of many thousands of zebras and wildebeest

COLLEEN GREEN The Standard KAWARTHA LAKES: For many young people, discovering a future career path can happen in unexpected ways. For Tanner Big Canoe, it started with a high school elective and eventually led him to studying computer science, at Queen’s University — a journey he credits, in large part, to the support and opportunities provided by Ampere. Mr. Big Canoe first became involved with Ampere through a personal connection, while searching for a part-time job, during

by Geoffrey Carpentier It’s May, and most of our migrants are back already, setting up territories, finding mates and getting ready to start the next generation of their species. Many of our migrants, most in fact, spend the winter in South and Central America and make the perilous journey, twice annually, north to south then back again in the autumn. With their return each spring, they do bring joy and colour to our lives, after we’ve enjoyed (?) our own, long cold winters.

DARRYL KNIGHT Local Journalism Initiative Reporter for The Standard KAWARTHA LAKES: Growing demand for skilled trades workers was front and centre at a City of Kawartha Lakes Committee of the Whole meeting, on Tuesday, May 5th, as councillors received a memorandum, calling for stronger municipal support of trade programming at Fleming College’s Frost Campus. The memorandum, brought forward by Ward 5 Councillor Mark Doble, asked the municipality to advocate for the advancement