DARRYL KNIGHT Local Journalism Initiative Reporter for The Standard KAWARTHA LAKES: Getting around Kawartha Lakes without a car could look very different over the next decade, if the City’s draft Regional Ten-Year Transit Master Plan becomes reality. Council received the draft plan during its Tuesday, August 25th regular meeting, opening the door to a potential expansion of public transit, beyond the existing Lindsay Transit system. The proposed 10-year roadmap calls for a mo

DARRYL KNIGHT Local Journalism Initiative Reporter for The Standard BROCK: A major investment in Brock Township’s rural road network continued recently, as crews carried out road maintenance work on four local routes. Lane restrictions began Thursday, August 27th, for the application of Flexible Asphalt Cold Technology (FACT), a self-healing road treatment, designed to help extend the life of existing road surfaces while reducing future maintenance and upkeep costs. The work

LINDSAY: Downtown Lindsay was filled with gleaming chrome and vintage vehicles on Sunday, July 19, as Classics on Kent and Brits in the Park attracted hundreds of car enthusiasts and spectators. Classic cars lined Kent Street while Victoria Park hosted an impressive collection of British-built automobiles, including MGs, Triumphs, Jaguars, Austin-Healeys and Minis. The annual event featured everything from early antiques to muscle cars and modern classics, giving visitors a c

DARRYL KNIGHT Local Journalism Initiative Reporter for The Standard BROCK: Travellers, on Brock Township's rural roads, should continue to see improvements throughout the summer and autumn, as municipal crews press ahead with an expanded maintenance program, funded through council's emergency rural roads initiative. At a meeting, on Monday, June 29th, Brock Township Council received an update on the municipality's previously approved Rural Roads Emergency Funding program, in

SCUGOG: Motorists travelling along Regional Road 57 in the Township of Scugog should expect lane restrictions throughout much of the summer as the Regional Municipality of Durham undertakes road rehabilitation work. The project is scheduled to begin during the week of July 6th and continue until August 31st, although the timeline may be affected by unfavourable weather conditions. Lane restrictions will be in effect on two sections of Regional Road 57: from approximately 100

UXBRIDGE: Drivers in the Township of Uxbridge are being advised of a significant upcoming road closure on Zephyr Road as Durham Region prepares to begin a major reconstruction project this summer. The Region of Durham says Zephyr Road (Regional Road 13) will be fully closed between Concession Road 3 and Concession Road 4, starting July 13th, with the closure expected to remain in place until October 7th. Following the full closure, lane restrictions will continue through the

DARRYL KNIGHT Local Journalism Initiative Reporter for The Standard NORTH DURHAM: Residents and motorists, in the boundary area between Brock and Scugog, are being advised to prepare for several months of traffic disruptions, as the Regional Municipality of Durham moves ahead with a full replacement of the Saintfield Road Bridge over the Layton River. Durham Region has awarded the construction contract to Looby Construction Limited, and crews are expected to arrive the week o

DARRYL KNIGHT Local Journalism Initiative Reporter for The Standard SCUGOG: Years of wear and tear, beneath one of Port Perry's key roadways, have prompted additional engineering work, as plans move forward for a major rehabilitation of Old Simcoe Road. The preliminary design phase for the Old Simcoe Road Rehabilitation project is underway and remains on schedule; however, new investigations have revealed underground deficiencies which will require further study before constr

COLLEEN GREEN The Standard SCUGOG: Engines will rumble to life and chrome will gleam under the early summer sun, as thousands are expected to gather along Water and Queen Street in Port Perry, for the 13th annual Roar by the Shores classic car show, a tradition which continues to draw enthusiasts from across Durham Region and beyond. Scheduled to run Sunday, from 8 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., the waterfront event will transform the town’s historic downtown into a rolling museum of aut

DARRYL KNIGHT Local Journalism Initiative Reporter for The Standard BROCK: Residents across Brock Township are beginning to see improvements to local roads, following an emergency special council meeting, held on April 17th, to address concerns over deteriorating road conditions after a difficult winter and spring. Mayor Mike Jubb recently provided an update on the municipality’s response, stating, “Immediately after that meeting, and within four working days, all 150 km of o

UXBRIDGE: Residents in the Township of Uxbridge are being invited to review and provide feedback on a proposed new roundabout planned for the intersection of Brock Road and Goodwood Road. The Regional Municipality of Durham is proposing the construction of a single-lane roundabout at the intersection of Brock Road (Regional Road 1) and Goodwood Road (Regional Road 21), along with the addition of an eastbound truck climbing lane. Regional officials say the proposed improvement

DARRYL KNIGHT Local Journalism Initiative Reporter for The Standard SCUGOG: A deteriorating rural crossing, west of Old Simcoe Road, is set for a major upgrade, after council endorsed a modular bridge solution, aimed at improving safety while saving both time and money. At its meeting, on April 27th, council approved a plan to replace a failing concrete box culvert, on Scugog Line 2, with a prefabricated modular bridge system, awarding a single-source contract, valued at roug

DARRYL KNIGHT Local Journalism Initiative Reporter for The Standard BROCK: Potholes, washouts, and soft shoulders have become a familiar, and frustrating, sight, across Brock’s rural concessions, this spring, prompting council to take urgent action, at a special meeting on Friday, April 17th. With more than 100 millimetres of recent rainfall and lingering frost beneath the surface, road conditions, across the township, have deteriorated rapidly in recent weeks, drawing concer

DARRYL KNIGHT Local Initiative Reporter for The Standard SCUGOG: Motorists in Port Perry can expect smoother drives ahead, as Scugog Township moves forward with a targeted plan to repair several high-traffic roads, following a punishing winter season. At its meeting, on Monday, March 23rd, council approved a recommendation, from the Public Works and Recreation Department, to use unallocated Roads Levy Reserve funds to rehabilitate key stretches of roadway in the Port Perry

DARRYL KNIGHT The Local Journalism Initiative Reporter for The Standard BROCK: An innovative road repair product tested last year will see a broader rollout in 2026 after council approved two major rehabilitation contracts aimed at improving driving conditions across the municipality. At its February 9th meeting, council awarded contracts for both Flexible Asphalt Cold Technology (FACT) and slurry seal projects to Miller Paving Limited, the lowest compliant bidder in each te

DARRYL KNIGHT Local Journalism Inititiative Reporter for the Standard BROCK: Cycling tourism could soon get a visible boost across Brock Township, as council signalled support for a regional wayfinding signage program, at its Monday, February 9th meeting. Communications and Tourism Coordinator, Tamra Kaiser presented a staff report, outlining the Regional Municipality of Durham’s plan to implement a Rural Cycling Wayfinding Signage Program, throughout North Durham, as part

By Jonathan van Bilsen Flying always comes with a degree of uncertainty, but I have long believed, as long as the aircraft remains airborne, I am prepared to negotiate the rest. After more than 800 flights, I have accumulated a respectable collection of mishaps and close calls, all of which I have survived, clearly against the odds. One of the more memorable episodes unfolded on a short hop between Saint Petersburg and Moscow, twenty-five years ago. Reaching Saint Petersburg

BRANDON CLARK & DARRYL KNIGHT Local Journalism Initiative Reporter for The Standard KAWARTHA LAKES/BROCK: Ontario has experienced brutal winter weather since last November, and with it have come repercussions for road and sidewalk maintenance. The City of Kawartha Lakes and Durham Region are two municipalities among many across the province that have experienced harsh seasonal conditions. Kawartha Lakes typically sees an average of 50 winter weather events that require snowp

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

COLLEEN GREEN The Standard DURHAM/KAWARTHA LAKES: The proposed Alto high-speed rail network is moving forward with an ambitious vision. It aims to connect Toronto to Québec City, advance reconciliation with Indigenous peoples, and invite Canadians to help shape the future of national transportation. From the earliest stages of planning, Indigenous peoples have been recognized as key partners in the project. Discussions began at the outset and continue through open, respectful