DARRYL KNIGHT Local Journalism Initiative Reporter for The Standard BROCK: Orange shirts will be a familiar sight around Brock Township, next week, as residents gather to remember the children who never returned home from residential schools and honour those who survived. The National Day for Truth and Reconciliation, also recognized as Orange Shirt Day, will be marked Wednesday, September 30th, with a number of opportunities for residents to learn, reflect, and remember. In

It was a warm summer day at a family picnic table near the shore of the Bay of Quinte. Uncle Earl “Sonny” Green sat with three enthusiastic children, their eager faces turned toward him as he recalled moments from a life which had known both extraordinary sorrow and exuberant joy. At eighty-seven, his face was etched with time, but his eyes still carried a remarkable spark. His memories reached back to his early years at the Brantford Mohawk Residential School and forward to

by Shawn Lackie Many years ago, when we first started our home-owning journey, we looked in a number of areas in Toronto. For us at the time, the main criterion was: could we afford this? Even if it meant living in what would now be called a scuzzy neighbourhood (is scuzzy even a word?). At any rate, we looked everywhere and settled on a place we could afford. That was the main thing. We could afford to buy the place, and that was all that mattered. Well, it seems that’s not

DARRYL KNIGHT Local Journalism Initiative Reporter for The Standard KAWARTHA LAKES: Artists across Kawartha Lakes and surrounding communities are being offered a new opportunity to turn creative ideas into reality. The Kawartha Lakes Arts Council (KLAC), the official Community Arts Council for the City of Kawartha Lakes, has launched its new Creative Futures Grant Program, providing financial support to artists looking to develop their creative practices, explore new ideas, o

KELLY WHYTE VCST KAWARTHA LAKES: Did you know the Victoria County Studio Tour (City of Kawartha Lakes) is the second oldest studio tour in Ontario? Our tour offers a diverse range of art sure to satisfy visitors from across the province. If you crave a local landscape, created in oils, watercolours or acrylics, we’ve got it! Jewellery designed to dazzle, wood-turned bowls, fabric art creations and pottery that will make your guests green with envy- we have it all! And the bes

DARRYL KNIGHT Local Journalism Initiative Reporter for The Standard NORTH DURHAM: For residents with a question about policing, a concern about their neighbourhood, or simply a desire to get to know the officers who serve their community, there will soon be an easy place to start, over a cup of coffee. Durham Regional Police Service’s (DRPS) popular 'Coffee with a Cop' initiative is returning this autumn, with North Division officers making stops at coffee shops, in Uxbridge,

JAY THIBERT North Durham Nature Club SCUGOG: Julie-Ann will share her enthusiasm for a small shorebird which nests and dwells in Ontario, on a few exposed sand and gravel Great Lakes’ beaches. Piping Plovers returned to Ontario in 2007, after a 30-year absence. In 2026, we celebrated their 20th breeding season in Ontario. Join us to learn how you can help this charismatic shorebird and ensure we celebrate many more successful seasons to come, on Tuesday, September 22nd, at th

by Geoffrey Carpentier Last time we talked about migration and how birds and some insects use a variety of tools to safely move from their summering to wintering grounds and back again. However, what if things don’t go as planned? There are many factors which can and frequently do occur which can offset the positive migratory adventure our birds face. Setting aside things like predators, wires, buildings, hunters, pesticides and disappearing habitats (which usually lead to th

DARRYL KNIGHT Local Journalism Initiative Reporter for The Standard KAWARTHA LAKES: As summer winds down, six young entrepreneurs, in the region, are wrapping up a season of turning their ideas into businesses, through the 2026 Summer Company Program. The annual program, offered through the Kawartha Lakes Small Business Centre (KLSBC) in partnership with the Province of Ontario, provides students with an opportunity to launch and operate their own businesses, while gaining ha

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