Inductees

To strive to be an accomplished musician is a credit to any individual. To teach generations of young people the joy that striving takes, is truly a remarkable individual. For over 30 years, Peter Ford instilled love of music and performance in countless local and area young people.

In the early 1960’s, Peter created a music department in the newly constructed Crestwood Secondary School. Very quickly, Crestwood had a performance-ready band under Peter’s guidance. To nurture the importance of performance, he organized numerous band trips and exchanges. He utilized the fundraising capacities of band members and their families, making these excursions family, and life experiences as well.

Over the years, Peter worked tirelessly to bring instrumental musical education to even younger students, encouraging the Board of Education to establish music programs for senior elementary students throughout the county.

After retirement, Peter continued to support, and encourage aspiring musicians through the formation of the StarFire Band and Wind Symphony. An equally amazing innovation begun by Peter is the New Horizons Band for seniors who had little, or no musical experience.

Peter Ford passed away on Christmas Day, 2022. He was 85.

Eveline Foster is one of those rare and wonderful musicians who warmly combined her love of music with her love of family and community.

For near 60 years, Eveline charmed the Peterborough people as both performer and teacher. She taught piano and violin to such future luminaries as Del Crary, Ernie Victor and Stan McBride Sr.. As musician, she played at silent movies, numerous minstrel shows, the Peterborough Symphony, the YWCA and, on Saturday nights, the Sergeant’s Mess at the Armouries. A humble woman, she poured her heart into her music. Eveline once said she never did solo work because that would mean facing the audience. “They should be just enjoying the music,” she said, “not seeing me.”

In recognition of her dedication to music and community, a trophy in her name is awarded each year at the Kiwanis Music Festival. To those who knew her or felt her influence, Eveline Foster represents the best in our musical tradition: a love of people and the making of music for the pure joy of it.

David Edgerton will always be associated with the long, and successful effort to build a Wall of Honour in Peterborough to commemorate those who served in the military during the two world wars, and Korea. This incredible project grew out of his association since 1970 with the Canadian Legion, of which he has been an outstanding leader since. The Wall of Honour project was led by David with assistance from the Canadian Legion,Trent Valley Archives, Susan Kyle, and various community leaders and departments of government.

The Wall of Honour was unveiled in Confederation Park in late 2010, and remains a tribute to all those with local roots who served in three wars.

Question: Have you ever been lonely; have you ever been blue?
Answer: (to question posed by song) Alan and Shirley Horner have, for the most of their lives, provided an antidote.

They’ve been volunteers with Telecare since its inception in 1977. The local organization, one of 16 in Canada at the time, boasted as of 2011 some 90 volunteers from all walks of life. This practical 24/7 caring association listens to some 15,000 calls a year from the four county regions. Volunteers and callers are anonymous to each other. Well-trained volunteers provide time, talent and energy to keep the lines open and listen to callers sharing joys, or sorrows affecting their world.

The Horners attend to duties explicit in the Telecare operation. Although Alan and Shirley have retired from the phone lines, they remain active administrators for this valuable service. Shirley Horner was one of the original Telecare members in Peterborough.

It’s safe to say this needed community service would be less effective, without the Horners.

Alan Charles Horner died in 2017.

• photo courtesy of Lance Anderson, Peterborough This Week / MyKAWARTHA

When talking about those who’ve contributed to the growth of live theatre and performance in Peterborough, one name quickly comes to mind…

Beth McMaster is a founding member, and a tireless worker with the Peterborough Theatre Guild. She’s authored more than 30 plays, many of them debuting at the Theatre Guild under her direction.

In 1990’s, Beth McMaster was the driving force and guiding spirit behind the creation and success of Showplace Peterborough. She has written many fundraisers for the theatre and today, largely through her dedication, Showplace Peterborough is an unquestioned jewel in Peterborough’s performing arts crown.

Longtime Peterborough family doctor, Don Curtis also found time to be an energetic and effective community activist. A strong supporter of the City’s Recreation Committee since the early 1970’s and instrumental, in 1982, of restructuring the committee into its present form as Parks & Recreation.

Dr. Curtis was an active participant in both 1980 and 1986 editions of the Ontario Summer Games and, in the 1970’s, co-chaired the groundwork entailed in establishing ParticipACTION Peterborough, and Snofest. Don Curtis provided invaluable support for the Peterborough YMCA and The Canadian Canoe Museum.

Dr. Curtis was inducted into the Peterborough and District Sports Hall of Fame in 1983.

Living his entire life in the hamlet with the heart of gold known as Cordova Mines, could be the reason for Dan Ireland’s talent and giving spirit.  He’d been singing and playing guitar since age 12, organizing events throughout his life to better the surrounding area.

Some major accomplishment: the organization of the Crowe Valley Jamboree in aid of the local Junior Hockey Association.  He was an asset toward building a new Recreation Centre, donating many hours entertaining, and raising money for its construction.  Dan Ireland was co-founder of the Havelock Country Music Talent Show, held each year, the proceeds of which help the Hospital for Sick Children Foundation, Five Counties Children’s Centre, and local youth groups.  His own children are ‘chips off the old block’ and are carving their own place in the country music industry of the nation.  Residents of retirement homes, nursing homes, hospitals and fundraisers could always count on being entertained by Dan, and his fellow musicians.

Dan Ireland was an example of the best of a community’s heart.

Mr. Ireland passed away in 2016.

Captain William H. Peryer was, without doubt, Peterborough’s most famous bandmaster.

Born in England, William Peryer came to Peterborough from Cleveland to assume the leadership of the Salvation Army Temple Band.  It was under his 40 year direction the Salvation Army Band toured Britain in 1914.  During the war, Peryer led the 59th Battalion Band overseas, gaining rank of Captain-Director of Music, and personal admiration from King George V.

Until his retirement in 1950, William Peryer served as musical director for several Peterborough brass bands, and played trumpet in the Grand Opera orchestra.  If you’re old enough to have enjoyed Sunday concerts in the park, featuring a wonderful mix of show tunes, hymns and military music, chances are those brass bands were under the direction of William Peryer.

Longtime proprietor of The Red Dog Tavern, Ray McGregor was a significant contributor to the Peterborough area, both in supporting and encouraging young Canadian musical talent – and in his humanitarian efforts to make life better in the community.

Over the years, under Ray’s guidance the Red Dog afforded a great many aspiring local musicians with their first opportunity for professional employment. Established entertainers such as Prairie Oyster gained their first public exposure, thanks to Red Dog Ray.

Ray frequently utilized the Red Dog facilities to raise thousands of dollars for worthy causes, most notably Cancer Research. On countless occasions, especially at Christmas, Red Dog Ray prepared meals to feed the homeless and forgotten. For his heartfelt generosity, the City of Peterborough presented Ray McGregor with the Award of Merit in 1991.

The old saw, (Like Father, Like Son) certainly applies to Vincent J. Abrahamse. He encouraged the same love and passion for music, in his Thomas A. Stewart students, as his father, Jack, instilled in him.

Crafting a highly successful music program at Thomas A. Stewart, Vincent brought much recognition to this area through his direction of unfailing national award winning bands. The bands consist of students from grades 9 through 12, many with no musical experience prior to entering his music program.

It’s through his passion, dedication and hard work that Vincent is able to bring a love and joy of music to those he teaches and who, because of it, produce provincial and national awards as a result.

Representing legendary business success in Peterborough in the early 20th Century, J.J. Duffus brought the first Ford Motor dealership in Canada, to Peterborough in 1909.  He served the community for 48 years as Alderman, Mayor, Member of Parliament and Senator.  He worked tirelessly to attract manufacturing industries to the City and, in the senate, was an early and effective proponent for the establishment of the Old Age Pension.

• Photo courtesy of the Duffus Family

Margaret MacKelvie, teacher and community activist, was a woman with a deep, and abiding love for the magic of ‘living history.’

No one was more involved in the creation of Lang Pioneer Village.

Before Lang opened in 1967, Margaret supervised Village construction, including arranging for several buildings to be transported to the site. Over the years, she arranged ‘special days’ at Lang, as well as creating publications with a focus on Lang.

As evidence of her true devotion, Margaret served as volunteer curator from 1967 to 1995.

For her efforts, Margaret MacKelvie was awarded the Canada Commemorative Medal, an Outstanding Achievement Award from the Ontario Museum Association, and an honourary doctorate from Trent University.

For true lovers of music and performance, it’s difficult to recall the first time they held an instrument in their hands.

Norm Post has been making music and captivating audiences since the age of 12 and is considered one of the most ‘instrumental’ individuals in Central Ontario Country Music.  In many ways, Norm’s life and career typify the road traveled by so many Country artists.

As fledgling performer, the dictates of raising a young family put a strain on his musical ambitions.  That worked itself out nicely, in 1967, with the formation of The Singing Post Family.  The next decade, the Post Family made inroads into the Canadian music scene, recording eight albums and making three cross-country tours.

In the 1970’s, as the kids went their separate ways, Norm reinvented his performing passion.  He became an active participant with the Kawartha Shrine Club, devoting much time and energy fundraising for crippled children.  To further his fundraising technique, Norm took the opportunity to become a registered clown and perform as ‘Cinders.’  He continued as solo Country artist, playing alongside such luminaries as Roy Clark, Hank Snow and Gordie Tapp.

He founded the Cross Country Jamboree, which introduced us to talents such as Carroll Baker and Wayne Rostad.  Organizations such as the Canadian Cancer Society, the Rockhound Gemboree, and Canadian Spinal Cord Research benefited from Norm’s organizational, and performing talents.

Music, and people; that’s the combination that comes together, with Norm Post.

Carl Oake was in real estate since 1968, and founded his Century 21 office on George Street ten years later. In 1999, Century 21 United Realty Ltd. And Century 21 Gray-Munro Realty Inc. merged to form Century 21 United Realty Inc. Brokerage.

Carl served as President of the Peterborough Real Estate Board and the Men’s Sales and Advertising Club, Director of the Peterborough Chamber of Commerce, the YMCA and the Peterborough Golf and Country Club – and served on the Strategic Planning Committee for the Peterborough Regional Health Centre.

Since 1987, the Carl Oake Swimathon has raised over $900,000 for local worthwhile causes, and the number of businesses and swimmers has increased each year. The Swimathon has always raised money to support Easter Seals, but over the years several other charities have been added. Until just recently, Carl habitually swam at least 100 laps during the event, employing the Australian crawl. He began his swimathon, that first year, swimming solo, but now there are over 30 teams of swimmers participating.

Among his many honours, Carl Oake is a Paul Harris Fellow and is a Peterborough Citizen of the Year recipient. He was also presented with the Easter Seals Helping Hand Award.

Mr. Oake retired from his firm, which remains in the capable hands of his daughter, Vanessa Oake Hogan.

Carl Oake passed away on January 2nd, 2025 in his 80th year following a courageous battle with cancer.

• photo courtesy Clifford Skarstedt, The Peterborough Examiner

When Peterborough born-and-raised Doug Pearcy moved to Norwood with his wife Sandra in 1969 to begin work in the auto parts business, there was little, to no indication of what that would mean for the town east of Peterborough.

Over the 50 years since, Doug’s fingerprints have been all over many aspects of Norwood’s growth and development.

Mr. Pearcy sat on Peterborough County Council from 1992 to 2014, serving as Reeve of Asphodel-Norwood for six years and, in 1996, as County Warden. However, his contributions to his community have extended well beyond the political arena.

Doug has been a member of the Norwood Lions Club for 49 years, awarded a life membership by the service club for his outstanding service. In addition, for 39 years, Doug has been a member of Branch 300 of the Royal Canadian Legion and currently serves as Service Officer, helping veterans and their families secure benefits owed to them. And, having become a Mason in 1966, Doug has held a number of positions with that organization through his association with the Norwood Masonic Lodge.

With Mr. Pearcy serving as co-chair, Action 2000 saw the raising of $1.5 million towards the building of the Asphodel-Norwood Community Centre, which opened in 2003. When it was decided that a senior AAA hockey franchise would be an ideal tenant for the new arena, Doug was front-and center in that effort and, on most Sunday nights, sold 50-50 tickets at Vipers games, the proceeds of which supported a number of community projects.

Currently president of Hospice Norwood Incorporated, Doug is leading the effort to see that project become a reality. There’s no question his 14-year stint as chair of the Committee of Management for Fairhaven has served him well in that effort. Doug still sits on that committee as a member.

When Doug was presented with a community recognition award on July 1, 2016, there was no doubt his significant service to Norwood spoke precisely to why the late J.J. Stewart, created the award.

If there were no Cultural Community Betterment category in this Pathway of Fame, one would have to be created especially for Su Ditta.

Born and raised in Toronto, she studied at Trent University where she earned a degree in Political Studies and Canadian Studies. Su Ditta is best known nationally, for her work as Associate Curator, Media Arts at the National Gallery of Canada in Ottawa; as head of the Media Arts Section of the Canada Council of the Arts; and as Adjunct Curator, Media Arts at the Oakville Galleries. Completing a six year term with the Canada Council of Arts, in 2013 she was the lead consultant working with the Canada Council on developing new approaches to supporting organizational management and development for arts organizations across the country.

But since taking up residence here, Su Ditta has become known for her work on the Board of Artspace and Art Gallery of Peterborough, Chair of the City’s Arts, Culture and Heritage Advisory Board, Vice-Chair of the Community Grants Committee, Co-Chair and Co-Founder of Artsweek, and Coordinator of Benchmarks. She is a founding director and has also served as Vice-Chair of the Community Leadership Committee, and the municipal Public Arts Committee.

Su participates as a volunteer in the Trent Student Mentoring Program, serves on the Art Committee for the Mount project as well as provides volunteer management advice and support to a number of local arts organizations including Artspace, EC3, Public Energy and Reframe.

To state that Su Ditta is totally, and completely involved and dedicated to this community would be a gross understatement.

Michael A. Peterman, Professor Emeritus of English Literature, Trent University, is named in 2006 as Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada.  It’s peer recognition of his exceptional research accomplishments.

Working with various colleagues he researched archival records and original writings of several writers with links to the Peterborough area bringing them, and their work, to life in no fewer than 13 books, 100+ articles and countless speeches and papers. He’s a leading authority on Willa Cather, Susanna Moodie, Catharine Parr Traill, Robertson Davies, James McCarroll and Isabella Valancy Crawford.  Thanks to his efforts, their works are now studied at schools and universities here, and abroad.

At Trent, he taught its most popular courses in American and Canadian Literature.  With the Peterborough Historical Society, Michael Peterman – a past president – chaired its Publications Committee for more than 20 years and actively supported the Hutchison House Museum.

Michael Peterman is singularly successful in diligently researching, and imaginatively reconstructing the lives and times of writers he admires.  He also generously shares what he learns.

• photo courtesy Clifford Skarstedt, The Peterborough Examiner

As a reporter for The Peterborough Examiner for more than 25 years, John is best known for his weekly ‘Labor Beat’ column and contribution to the Centennial Yearbook project, ‘Peterborough, Land of Shining Waters.’

His devotion to community ranges from volunteer work with area labour councils, to lecturing in area schools to foster a deeper appreciation of Aboriginal Peoples culture.

The essence of a true visual artist is to take the particular, and make it universal. The concept goes a long way in explaining the appeal of Eddie LePage’s artistry.

Completely self-taught, Eddie’s creative spirit embraces the beauty of the natural world, and finds an immediate kinship. Popularity of his portraits attests to the positive response of this kinship. Eddie’s works hang in private, and public galleries around the world. As well, his portraits of Ojibwa culture, past and present, found ready acceptance.

His talents are recognized by such groups as Ducks Unlimited, The Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters, and The Bradford Exchange.

For over a quarter century, Eddie made the Kawarthas his home, not only for this region’s incredible natural beauty but for the sense of community he’s found. With great generosity, he shares his time and talents to aid numerous community causes, including Heart & Stroke Society, The M.S. Society, the YWCA, and Peterborough Regional Health Centre.

Creativity, Nature and Community are three words shining through Eddie LePage’s art, and life.

• photo courtesy Clifford Skarstedt, The Peterborough Examiner

Most fortunately for Peterborough, finding ways to make a positive change in people’s lives is nothing new for Donald (Don) Watkins.

A pharmacist by trade, Don is a longtime Rotarian, having served with the Rotary Clubs of Tillsonburg, and Peterborough Kawartha. It was with the service club that Don’s leadership qualities became evident as he rose to serve as Rotary District Governor in 1991.

In the Peterborough community at large, Don is active with Community Care and Hospice Peterborough as well as serving meals at the One Roof Community Centre. In addition, he remains a steadfast supporter for new Canadians through Trent University’s International Student Program – helping with the little things that make a huge difference such as buying a first pair of winter mittens, navigating the public transit system, and job coaching.
Along with working closely with a Kurdish family who emigrated to the safety of Peterborough, Don – together with his wife Sharon, have hosted exchange students, welcomed visiting business people from around the world, and offered their home to ‘Beds WithOut Breakfast,’ a group connecting people in need of a free roof over their head while a family member is in hospital.

For any information regarding Rotary, Don has been and remains, the go-to person. However, his biggest contribution to the community through the service club is his annual Adventure In Understanding canoe trip, a six-night, five-day paddling and portage experience that brings First Nations and non-indigenous youth together as they canoe from Ecology Park to Curve Lake First Nation. A lingering vision of Don’s for several years, the program continues to grow and has served as a template for other Rotary clubs considering a similar project.

The Heffernan Family, a talented singing group from Lakefield, long consisted of six siblings and a friend. They learned their music in the family home of Barbara and Kevin Heffernan and was deeply rooted in Irish musical traditions.

The oldest siblings and a friend founded a high school band in 1969 and gradually, the younger siblings joined the group. They were Mary Jo (now deceased), Betty Ann, Kevin, Michele, Patricia and Jeanie, and with the addition of Tom King and his harmonica became ‘The Heffernan Family and Friends.’ These pioneers of the Peterborough Celtic sound performed for masses, weddings and funerals, and eventually played the Peterborough Market Hall and Peterborough Showplace, for Christmas concerts and fundraisers for charities.

They have four albums to their credit: ‘Stay Awhile’ (1997); ‘All the Folks are Home’ (2001); ‘Heart of an Immigrant’ (2011) and ‘The Village Concert – Story and Song’ (2013). The history of the family and Lakefield have been celebrated in the letters of Patricia and Mary Jo, printed in the Lakefield Herald as “Letters from Home,” some of which were published in booklet form in 2013. The Heffernan family has delightfully captured the spirit of the community for some forty years.

When German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche told us that without music, life would be a mistake, he foretold what drives Fred Huffman and makes him tick.

Since coming to Peterborough in 1950 to work as an apprentice at General Electric, Fred has made it his mission to bring the joy of music to the lives of as many people as he can. After a work colleague told him about the then-called Peterborough Citizens Band on the day he started at GE, Fred brought his clarinet to rehearsal the very next day, embarking on a musical journey with the Peterborough Concert Band that would last until the early 2000s and see him named a Charter Member of the organization.

Gifted not only with musical talent but also personality in spades, Fred became the face of the band. In 1958, he became its president and, two years later, took on the dual roles of secretary/treasurer and manager and held those positions for close to 40 years.

Serving as a promoter of the band, he liaised on its behalf with numerous entities including the City of Peterborough, the Peterborough Festival of Lights (now Musicfest) and the Canadian Band Festival. Fred’s passion for the band, and his efforts in terms of its promotion, have been key to the continued success of the band which, at 162 years old, is one of the oldest continuously performing bands in Canada.

Fred’s musical acumen has also led him to other opportunities, including musical theatre and his performing with the St. James’ Players on a number of productions including The Sound of Music, Oklahoma and Annie Get Your Gun.

In addition, as a member of the Kawartha Carollers, Fred entertained Christmas shoppers at local malls and, for several years, sang with The Peterborough Singers. To this day, Fred still has a song in his heart that he shares unselfishly as a member of the Mark Street United Church choir.

Mention the former Towns General Store, and ‘Douro’ will probably be mentioned in the same breath – and the reverse will happen when one mentions Douro – Towns General Store will be mentioned too. Ask the whereabouts of Michael Towns and you will be corrected to say ‘Mike’ Towns. For it is as ‘Mike’ that Towns is held by the entire region as the successful, dedicated and newly retired businessman, accomplished musician and now it’s more recent Author-In-Residence!

Just as his father and grandfather before him, Mike welcomed customers to the famous store established in 1892, and operated continuously until it succumbed to a massive fire on February 2nd, 2018. When minding the store for most of his life, he always showed a genuine interest and deep compassion for those who frequented his establishment.

It can truly be stated Mike’s journey has been walked with integrity, humility and grace. He is certainly regarded as a cherished gem within the community of Douro. Now it is Mike Town’s penning as an author too which has allowed the many descendants of Douro residents, those residing within it, and those who have moved away to rekindle their roots.

Mike’s two books, ‘While Minding The Store,’ and ‘I Mind The Time,’ chronicle the life and history of the early settlers and previous generations of Douro residents.  Readers are gently guided back to a time of faith, family and community.

Mike’s friendly demeanor, ready smile and handshake are testimonial that even in this hurried day and age, one can be assured of personal attention and interest – a genuine quality only transferred from generation to generation.
The Pathway of Fame was formed to enshrine important people such as Mike Towns who represent and maintain those special ideals that have made this area the extra special place that it is.

Paul Crough, in the words of his nominator, “has sung and danced and acted on virtually every stage in the area.”
He is a teacher at St. Peter’s Secondary School who has written, choreographed, directed his students to some remarkable performances.

He toured with Up With People. Locally he founded the Ennismore Homestead Theatre, and has written and directed their shows, designed the choreography and played the leading roles. He was outstanding in the 2013 Peterborough Theatre Guild production of Sound of Music. He played the lead role as Captain Von Trapp, and was a joint choreographer for this outstanding musical. He has had a major role in some forty shows. In 2011, he played the lead in Dirty Rotten Scoundrels. With the St. James Players in 2005 he was a tour de force with Slainte! the remarkable story of Irish emigration to this area, in which he was a co-writer and starred in the lead role.

Paul Crough is an energetic and enthusiastic supporter of theatre in all its local manifestations, and has sung and danced his way into countless audiences.

• Photo courtesy of Lance Anderson, Metroland / Peterborough This Week / MYKawartha

If one were to list the awards and nominations that have been bestowed upon author Drew Hayden Taylor, one would best be advised to set aside a fair amount of time.

Each honour speaks to the acclaim Drew has wholly earned, starting in 1992 with the prestigious Chalmer’s Award for his play Toronto at Dreamer’s Rock to his receiving the Queen Elizabeth Diamond Jubilee Award in 2012. Drew has well earned the acclaim that has come his way, having traveled the globe to speak to issues that reflect, celebrate and, yes, interfere in the lives of Canada’s First Nations people.

Truth be known, labeling the proud Ojibwa from Curve Lake first an author fails to speak to the creative tour de force Drew has been, and continues to be. Add theatre artistic director, playwright, journalist, lecturer, television scriptwriter, radio broadcaster and documentary director to the mix and you get a truer picture of the breadth of his boundless talent and passion.

Equally adept at writing fiction and non-fiction books as well as short stories and plays, Drew has penned 30-plus works. His first novel, The Night Wanderer: A Native Gothic Novel, was published in 2007; in 2010, Motorcycles and Sweetgrass saw him short-listed for the Governor General’s Award for Fiction. Most recently, Take Us To Your Chief And Other Stories – a collection of Native-themed science fiction stories – was published and, just this year, his new play Crees In The Caribbean came to fruition.

Despite the many roads down which his life journey has taken him, Drew has never forgotten his roots.

In 2011, his play Berlin Blues was staged at Millbrook’s 4th Line Theatre. In March, 2018 Cottagers and Indians, Drew’s play about people at odds over the harvesting of wild rice on Pigeon Lake, received rave reviews when it was produced at Toronto’s Tarragon Theatre. And in May of that year Drew hosted, and performed at the Gord Downie and Chanie Wenjack Fund Benefit Concert staged at Peterborough’s Market Hall.

In the television realm, Drew has made equally significant contributions, including co-creating and writing for the comedy series Mixed Blessings. In 2007, ‘In A World Created By A Drunken God’ – a made-for-TV movie he penned based on his play of the same name, was nominated for three Gemini Awards. In 2011 and again the following year, Drew wrote the script for the National Aboriginal Achievement Awards.

Having served as writer-in-residence at the University of Michigan, the University of Western Ontario, Ryerson, Wilfrid Laurier University and the University of Luneburg in Germany, Drew has made giving back a priority, sharing his insights and talent to the great benefit of young people.

• Photo courtesy of Clifford Skarstedt, The Peterborough Examiner

Tanglefoot, a revered folk music group, was one of the great sensations of the mid-1970’s in Peterborough. The group consisted of three elementary school teachers: Tim Rowat, a bilingual Joe Grant and Bob Wagar, who played guitar, fiddle and mandolin and sang tight three-part harmony in period dress. They penned, and presented songs about aspects of Canadian history in a style as if they had found folk songs. The songs dealt with General Brock, the Plains of Abraham, and pioneer life.

They performed in school auditoria across the Province, and their story-telling was punctuated with their music and song. They had a general following because of their appearances at summer events and historic sites – and because they recorded some of their performances for sale.

At one Ottawa festival, the legendary Canadian folksinger, Stan Rogers, opened for Tanglefoot.

The group, with new membership and the continuity of Joe Grant, has toured Canada and lreland. But the music of the 1970’s remains the yardstick for this venturesome group, who most cleverly made history come alive in so many ways.

How fortunate are those who are able to not only do what they love, but also blessed with the capacity to pursue their passion with the help, and support of those whom they love?

Born near Ottawa, Enid Swerdferger attended Queen’s University, bringing to that institution an unbridled love for both reading, and Canadian history. It was at Queen’s that she met Gord Mallory. They married in 1960 and moved to Peterborough where Gord worked as an engineer at Canadian General Electric. The couple raised four children, who have since blessed Enid and Gord with 10 grandchildren.

Having worked as both a social worker and a librarian, Enid never lost her love of Canadian history. Combining that with a talent and passion for writing, she penned and published her first book ‘Kawartha: Living On These Lakes,’ following that up with ‘Countryside Kawartha’ published through Peterborough Publishing, an enterprise started and operated by herself, and Gord. Combined, those first two books sold more than 10,000 copies locally.

With Gord’s assistance in photography and publishing, Enid has written 11 books. Along with those two initial efforts, other books she has written include ‘Robert Service: Under The Spell Of The Yukon’; ‘Coppermine: The Far North of George M. Douglas’; ‘Captain Fitz: FitzGibbon, Green Tiger of the War of 1812’; ‘Travels With Birds in Eastern North America’; ‘The Remarkable Years: Canadians Remember The 20th Century’; ‘Over The Counter: The Country Store In Canada’; and in 2017, ‘Susannah’s 1837: Rebellion in the Canadas.’ In addition, Enid has contributed articles to the Canadian Geographical Journal, Beaver’ and Reader’s Digest.

Enid’s research for her books has taken her and Gord across Canada, including two trips to the Yukon where she conducted interviews for ‘Robert Service: Under The Spell Of The Yukon.’ For her e-book ‘Travels With Birds,’ they trekked across eastern Ontario, and the eastern United States.

Back home, Enid was a member of the Friends of the Bata Library at Trent University, and both were members of the Peterborough Field Naturalists. In addition, numerous speaking engagements have filled Enid’s calendar, including talks featured at the annual Lakefield Literary Festival and before several local historical societies.

Until his passing in April of 2018, Gord was equally busy.  After working in the Civilian Atomic Power Department at GE, he founded Spectrum Engineering in 1971 with three other engineers. Sold to a Norwegian company, that company is now owned by Rolls-Royce, which employs 140 people locally. In Seoul, South Korea, Gord taught a nuclear radiation safety course for the Korean Atomic Energy Commission. Locally, he served with Otonabee Conservation as chair of its Water Control Board, and chaired the Board of Northminster United Church.

It’s a telling comment in today’s news-gathering industry that reputation is built on seeking out the flashy, big-event stories while glossing over essential human elements inherent in every story. In his long, and varied journalism career, Don Grant never bypassed the true meaning of each story and how it affected his readers.

Starting out as cub reporter at the Peterborough Examiner, Don’s determination came to the attention of then-editor Robertson Davies who expanded his duties. During his Examiner years, he covered every possible kind of story and learned to excel at the new craft of photo journalism. His talents led him to a job with the Toronto Telegram and an enviable reputation as a tenacious, much respected reporter. After the Telegram folded, Don went to The Globe & Mail, where he rose to a weekend editor position and then assistant city editor. On the way, he always took time to help younger journalists learn their craft and responsibilities.

Throughout his career, Don Grant thrived at technical aspects of reporting, but, more importantly, he never minimized the humanity in each story. He developed a true, and abiding love for people about, and for whom he wrote. In today’s journalism, that’s indeed a rare and treasured quality.

Don Grant passed away in 2014. he was 85.

The 15 years Sylvia Sutherland devoted to being Mayor of Peterborough will, in the main be considered her greatest legacy to the community.

Sylvia received a grounding in journalism, beginning at the Orillia Packet and Times and, later at the Toronto Telegram where she and Isabelle Bassett became good friends having joined the newsroom at the same time. Sutherland graduated from Ryerson with a diploma in Journalism in 1963, and from Trent University in 1973.

When Sylvia, and husband David Sutherland lived in Norwood in the late 1960’s, Sylvia ran for town council and was elected. David Sutherland was the founding President of Fleming College, to which Sylvia contributed much as well. Her engaging personality and people skills attributed to her hosting a very popular afternoon CHEX TV program.

In all this activity, Sylvia Sutherland developed a love for Peterborough and area – so much so, she considered it her “adopted” home. It was her energy and popularity that inspired her to successfully run for Mayor of Peterborough. Preserving the character of the City through the saviour of many of its landmark buildings from the wrecking ball, was just one of her visionary accomplishments. Sutherland  saved the historic Cox terrace on Rubidge Street, and helped preserve the Peterborough Armouries by attracting government monies for that cause.

During the “great flood” of 2004, Her Worship Mayor Sutherland showed stalwart leadership and executive skills of a person worthy of that position. And who will ever forget the resultant “Calendar Girls” fundraiser? Sylvia championed the Market Hall restoration, a proud symbol of our City. Hutchinson House on Brock Street stands as part testament to our historical past through her efforts.

Much of our City’s stature owes its existence to Sylvia Sutherland who saw, in its past, its future attractiveness.
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It’s true that in life, there are ‘do-gooders,’ and there are those who do good. Ray Peters certainly falls within the latter.

He didn’t pursue the limelight in helping the poor and less fortunate. It’s because he assisted so many due to his passion to assure that justice is served, he earned the gratitude of many. Ray Peters saw to it those experiencing difficulty were assisted, and received any benefits the system had to offer. Mr. Peters became a sought-after, and revered personality – so much so, he became legendary in the community. He dedicated most of his time to making sure those in need of assistance, received it.

His tireless efforts on behalf of those less fortunate, earned respect from his superiors, and reverence from his subordinates.