Inductees

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 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.

David and Patricia Morton have been dynamic philanthropists, whose generosity has had an incredible impact on all of Peterborough County.

David Morton was President and CEO for Quaker Oats Company, while Dr. Patricia Morton taught history at Trent University, and is now Professor Emeritus. Both have served on significant committees affecting the welfare of our citizens.

David was Chair of the Board of Governors of Trent University, the Board of Frontier College, Chair of the Five Counties Children’s Centre, the Fleming College Board, the Greater Peterborough Economic Development Corporation, the Festival of Lights, and the original campaign for the Peterborough Regional Health Centre. He was Peterborough’s Volunteer of the Year in 2002, and received an honourary doctorate from Trent University.

Patricia, a respected and published historian, has served on the Board of the Morton Community Health Centre in Lakefield. The Morton Family Trail, on the east bank of Trent University was named for them. Since 2012, David and Patricia Morton have been the leading donors for the Lakefield Literary Festival. They were major donors for the First People’s House of Learning at Trent University’s Gzowski College, and have funded several outstanding scholarships and bursaries for the University. They donated $100,000 to the building of the Sport and Wellness Centre at Trent University.

Most significantly, they donated $500,000 to the Lakefield Primary Health Centre, since renamed the Morton Community Health Centre. They also gave support to the Trent Valley Archives for its J. J. Duffus Project, and to the publishing of the history of the Quaker Oats fire of 1916.

No words can adequately capture the depth of David and Patricia Morton’s support for the communities of Peterborough, Lakefield, Trent University and the County of Peterborough – or their incalculable influence in making so many community projects feasible.

• photo courtesy KawarthaNOW

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.

When discussing the talents of certain musicians, a phrase is often heard: “It’s in his blood.” That’s certainly very true of inductee William Wright.

Bill started on the drums at age ten and was soon performing in clubs long before he was old enough to partake of the ‘refreshments’ those clubs offered…

Bill’s first taste of the road came when he joined the band of ‘rock’n roll’ star Ray Smith, touring Canada and the U.S. He later played Las Vegas with Canadian pop legend, Bobby Curtola. Locally, Bill gained acclaim performing with such luminaries as Dino And The Capris, the Brian Browne Trio and Stu McCue & Wildwind.

In 1964, Bill opened Wright’s Music on George Street, which became a centre for Peterborough’s musical life. Bill taught many aspiring musicians, and his shop housed the local Academy of Music and the Musicians Union with which Bill was very active.

As performer, teacher, union supporter and businessman, there’s no doubt music remained a foundation, flowing through the veins of Bill Wright.

The superb works of Neil Broadfoot, a Peterborough artist with a wide reputation for his landscapes and wilderness scenes, are found in several private and corporate collections. While he worked mostly with watercolours, Broadfoot also dabbled in oils, acrylics and multi-media.

Upon graduating from the Ontario College of Art in 1961, he worked as a commercial artist for five years before becoming a teacher. ln addition to teaching at Crestwood Secondary School in Peterborough for 34 years, Broadfoot taught at art schools in Buckhorn, Haliburton, and locally. He worked on maps, murals and banners for the Canadian Canoe Museum, where he was an artist-in-residence. With the late George Elliott, another noted Peterborough artist and Pathway inductee, Neil Broadfoot painted the former mural at the Peterborough Memorial Centre, and designed the iconic Petes logo for the historic Jr. A hockey franchise. His artwork has been featured on the cover of Reader’s Digest, in illustrations for text books, and in calendars for General Motors.

Neil Broadfoot passed away in July, 2020 following a brief illness.

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

Many would agree Peterborough possesses a magical quality that lures those born here back to the area, and keeps those not born in Peterborough, here.  Heribert Michel planned to stay in Peterborough no more than two years, then move to bigger and better things.

That was in 1951 and, for over 50 years; he’s not only stayed but has added much to the musical, cultural and spiritual fabric of our community.

‘Temporarily’ filling the organist position at Sacred Heart Church, Heribert served as organist and choir director at Sacred Heart and St. Peter’s since that fateful year, 1951. During that time, he’s composed and arranged numerous masses and services. He passed on a love of music to countless young people through his teaching. His talents, and creativity are readily available to choirs, concerts and theatre groups in the Peterborough area. In recognition of his artistry and dedication to music in the church ministry, Heribert was invested as Knight of St. Sylvester by Pope John Paul II.

Heribert Michel possesses that special quality unique to true artists. He has the capacity to infuse both joy, and solemnity into spiritual music and make both ring true. His ‘temporary’ home of Peterborough has been the richer for his being here.

Mr. Bierk was a noted artist, teacher and co-founder of ARTSPACE with poet Dennis Tourbin, serving as its Director from 1974 until at least 1981. At the time, ARTSPACE was hailed as one of Canada’s earliest artist-operated arts centers.

Mr. Bierk was involved in the community since 1970, taking a teaching position at Kenner Collegiate and Vocational Institute in 1972, and later taught at Fleming College.

Mr. Bierk passed away August 28th, 2002.

Lois Harte-Maxwell was proof that with hard work and dedication, the only insurmountable impediments in life are not physical, but that of the human spirit.

Despite her own difficulties with physical mobility, Lois tirelessly supported and, in some cases, was a pioneer in creating community awareness in Peterborough for those with any form of disability. She served several terms on City Council and sat on a number of committees dealing with accessibility issues for those with disabilities. More than any other individual, Lois Harte-Maxwell was instrumental in making City Hall physically accessible to all citizens of Peterborough.

Lois Harte-Maxwell died in 2016, in her 80th year.

As a means of communicating a message to a specific group, music has long been effective.

In the 1960s, Bob Dylan and Pete Seeger, to name a few, spoke to anti-war protesters and civil rights activists in a voice they understood and rallied around. Fast forward to the new millennium and Peterborough singer-songwriter Glen Caradus who, for some 20 years now has, through his music, spoken to countless children and young people about the environment and nature, and their developing role in the preservation of both.

As an educator with Camp Kawartha, Ecology Park and the Canadian Canoe Museum, Caradus’ exuberant and creative teaching style has seen him add his skills as an exceptional storyteller and puppeteer to the mix. Since 1999, The Paddling Puppeteers, a musical puppet show he created, has enlightened kids across the country on topics such as shoreline naturalization, a critically endangered prairie ecosystem and the geological history of the Peterborough region.

Able to play multiple instruments, Caradus is also an accomplished musician, having recorded three children’s CDs, each with an environment or nature theme.

Caradus practices what he sings of. He bikes more than he drives, and when he does drive, his electric hybrid provides his ride. His garden is home to native trees, shrubs and wildflowers that he gives away for free, and under the cover of darkness, he sometimes undertakes ‘guerilla re-wilding’ – the planting of native trees in parks and green spaces in a bid to improve biodiversity.

More recently, Caradus created The Ride for Climate. In 2021, he cycled 350 kilometres over 14 hours, raising money for Peterborough Green-Up. The following year, joined by his friend Nick Ormond, Caradus covered 421 kilometres in 20 hours, bringing in more than $10,000 for Camp Kawartha and Rowan Tree Children’s School’s nature-based programming. And in 2023, Caradus logged 280 kilometres, raising more than $5,000 to the benefit of For Our Grandchildren’s climate change education efforts.

First Nations and reconciliation awareness is also near and dear to Caradus’ heart and, on that front, he has been very active. In 2014, he partnered with the Rotary Club of Peterborough-Kawartha to create Adventure In Understanding, a since annual six-day/five-night culture-based canoe experience for First Nation and non-native youths aged 16 to 18 years old. The 100-kilometre trek through the Kawartha Lakes culminates at Curve Lake First Nation. Participants engage in reconciliation by learning about First Nations in the region, connecting with Elders and the land, and by being together.

Meanwhile, the developmentally disabled have benefitted from Caradus’ voluntarism. Over the past three years, he has volunteered for the Dream Players, which performs musical theatre. Other benefactors of Caradus’ time and talents include the Five Counties Children’s Centre and, for 25 years now, Ecology Park where he helps with its gardens and tree nursery.

Formed in the late 1950’s, the group was this area’s first nationally recognized rock group.

The Count Victors began as The Teen Lords in 1961 and became the Count Victors when Danny Harrison came on board as lead singer. Danny was backed by Bob Dixon on bass, Freddy Munro on the piano, and Terry Lathangue on drums.

This song was a big local hit in Peterborough, and managed to climb to #33 on the 1050 CHUM charts in Toronto.

Long-standing member of Kawartha Shrine Club, Lloyd devoted himself to a long list of community projects.  He served in several capacities with Shriners, including club ambassador, sick and visiting chair and president.  Also influential in organizing Shrine support for Peterborough Youth Soccer and, as part of the Shrine clown unit, delighting in entertaining children.

Long before most of us were thinking ‘green’ and, in particular, about the importance of education as it pertains to environmental stewardship and sustainability, Jacob Rodenburg was a determined trailblazer on a mission.

A field teacher of outdoor education for more than 30 years as well as a longtime environmental education instructor at Trent University, Mr. Rodenburg is the current executive director of Camp Kawartha, an award-winning environmental education centre in Douro-Dummer Township.

Over the course of his career, Mr. Rodenburg has consistently found innovative ways to connect people to nature, as well as to empower youth as agents of change. For his continued efforts, Mr. Rodenburg has been recognized through awards from Otonabee Conservation, the Canadian Network for Environmental Education and Communication, the Ontario Society of Environmental Educators, and Ontario Nature.

Jacob Rodenburg’s vision, leadership and fundraising efforts were key to the establishment of the Camp Kawartha Environment Centre, one of Canada’s most sustainable buildings that showcases ‘green’ building techniques, and has spawned several curriculum-linked environmental programs. Since opening in 2009, the centre has welcomed and educated more than 27,000 elementary, and high school students.

Working with more than 40 organizations, Mr. Rodenburg also conceived, and founded the Pathway to Stewardship and Kinship – an innovative stewardship-fostering approach that identifies key experiences, or landmarks the community at large can deliver to children from the moment they are born, to when they graduate from high school.

In partnership with Trent University, Mr. Rodenburg was integral in the development of an environmental education training program from which more than 350 students and teachers have graduated. More recently, he was also key in the establishment of a national online environmental education program made available to faculties of education across Canada.

Having taught more than 100,000 students to date, Jacob Rodenburg frequently speaks before parent, teacher and community groups, showcasing how they can use local green spaces to connect children to nature. In addition, Mr. Rodenburg has written more than 75 articles on nature and environmental education and, together with Drew Monkman, co-authored a best-selling book entitled The Big Book of Nature Activities. More recently, Jacob Rodenburg published The Book of Nature Education, featuring no fewer than 70 sensory activities that serve to deepen, and strengthen a readers’ connection to nature.

How far will one guy go to raise money for a most worthy cause?

In the case of Ted Dawes, it’s not how far. It’s how high, how often. Although there is an aspect of how far involved here, as well. Confused? Read on.

A longtime employee of Minute Maid in Peterborough, Dawes took to the roof of Morello’s Independent Grocer in May 2024 for a 20th time, raising funds for the Leukemia and Lymphoma Society of Canada, every penny brought in destined for research.

Supported by his work union, United Food and Commercial Workers International, Dawes’s annual long weekend rooftop stay had brought in some $400,000 over the years prior.

Why Morello’s? Simple. Holly, his wife of 39 years, is a longtime employee of the east Peterborough grocery store, while owners Dave and Kim Morello have been, and remain, staunch supporters of Dawes’ fundraising efforts.

In 2009, Dawes deviated from his Ted on the Roof script, opting to undertake Ted on the Road and walking from Parliament Hill in Ottawa to Toronto’s Sick Kids Hospital. In addition, Ted at Your Door has seen Dawes go door-to-door for donations, while Ted on the BBQ has seen him flip burgers and the like for the cause that remains near and dear to his heart.

Back in 2011, when Relly on the Roof took flight atop The Brick as a fundraiser for the United Way initially and later for Habitat for Humanity, newbie ‘roofer’ Paul Rellinger was quick to praise Dawes for blazing the roof fundraising path along with Al Harding, who raised money for the Heart and Stroke Foundation for years prior from his perch atop Canadian Tire.

“The best ideas are stolen…and I stole this one,” admitted Rellinger, crediting both men for their dedication to their respective causes, and for voicing their support of the new kid on the roof.

While Ted should be applauded for his years of roofing for an important cause, he’d no doubt shrug such praise off, noting his greatest achievement has been, and remains, his and Holly’s raising of Corey, Chris and Caitlyn, coupled with their enduring love for their grandchildren, Jayde and Sophia.

Roberta Rowland Patterson, longtime arts teacher at Kenner Collegiatefrom  1965-1988, is a talented landscape artist.

Roberta had a wide range of interests in the arts and figure skating. But her education in art was impeccable. With her mother, Georgie Wilcox, a professional painter based in Winnipeg, she spent several summers in the art colony at Provincetown, on Cape Cod, where she learned techniques from many artists. She studied art at the University of Manitoba under Lionel Fitzgerald, and at the Ontario College of Arts, 1943-46,where Franklin Carmichael was an influential teacher. She was twice married, to Philip Rowland (d. 1964) and Robert Patterson (m. 1982).

In recent years, she has taken exciting painting excursions to France, England, Newfoundland, an Alaskan cruise, and British Columbia. Her work has become known for its deft use of colour, texture and composition.

Alan Black, a singer, songwriter and drummer, is a major fixture on the local music scene. His musical career stretches over decades, mostly based in Peterborough where he is a co-owner of Maggie’s Eatery and a family man. He was described as, “the backbeat of the best blues,R&B and rock bands in this hip university town.”

He was a co-founder of Jackson Delta, which garnered two Junos nominations, and one for the BB King Lucille Award. Most recently, he has fronted Al Black and the Steady Band and its “New Orleans funk,” a mixture of Rock and Roll and Caribbean rhythms. The band won the 2013 Wire award for Roots/ Blues Band of the Year.

Alan Black has been a tireless promoter of local music, and himself has toured widely in the United States, Britain and Scandinavia. Singles include ‘Happy as a Monkey,’ together with recordings in collaboration with other groups.

If there’s a song to be sung, or a note to be struck, or both, the odds are pretty good that Bob Trennum is somewhere in the mix.

Equally proficient at the keyboard, or with a guitar, banjo, ukelele or harmonica in hand, Trennum’s selfless sharing of his musical gift has benefitted not only hundreds of young people, but also lifted the spirits of retirement and nursing home residents across the region.

Over a 33-year career as a music teacher, Trennum directed school choirs, but made time beyond that setting to assist with musicals staged by local theatre companies such as the Peterborough Theatre Guild, St. James’ Players and the Northumberland Players. At Showplace in Peterborough, Spring Tonic and Legendary Icon shows have featured his talents.

Trennum’s dedication to his craft is matched by his boundless generosity, with numerous fundraisers for community groups having met with success due in large part to his involvement.

Along the way, his eager willingness to work with, and support, performers such as Kate Suhr, Carling Stephen and Beth McMaster has earned him the respect and admiration of many.

Suhr makes note of “the joy” of performing alongside Trennum over several years, their first production together being State Fair staged in the late 1990s by St. James’ Players.

“Bob brought something special to the stage – an infectious energy, a deep sense of community pride, and a genuine love for connecting with audiences,” says Suhr, echoing the view of many.

Having written and recorded more than 50 songs – a number of them about his beloved Stony Lake – Trennum has been, and remains, a musician of considerable talents; his journey including, but not limited to, his years playing piano for The Dixie Cats. That’s when Tom Bell first made his acquaintance.

“Bob is a joy to work with; unlike many entertainers, his ego is always left at the door,” marvels Bell, adding “He celebrates his humanity by making music.”

Approaching 80 years of age, Trennum is showing no signs of slowing down. His continued commitment to his craft and to the betterment of his community is truly music to the ears, and hearts, of the many whose lives he continues to touch.

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.

It’s possible to live in a community without really being part of it. With his unselfish devotion of time, energy, commitment and caring, Gerry O’Connor was very much a part of this community. For 12 years he served on Peterborough City council, however his love for Peterborough didn’t stop there.

He was instrumental in developing Del Crary Park, and the creation of Peterborough’s three major shopping malls. He enjoyed local sports, and served in several capacities with Peterborough Minor Hockey and Minor Lacrosse Associations.

It was, however his enthusiastic support of Snofest, Peterborough’s annual winter carnival, for which he will be most fondly remembered. Serving as Snofest’s chairperson for 23 years, he embodied a spirit that made Snofest the success it remains today. ‘Mr. Snofest’ helped to make winter a brighter, and warmer time for all.

For many, the true test of life well-lived, is the capacity to make mole hills out of mountains. To be a respected entertainer, songwriter and tireless community volunteer are true enough achievements on their own. But along the way, John Morris has had to make the mountain of blindness into a mole hill.

John is a self-taught musician and songwriter who’s given selflessly of his time and talent to raise money for charities such as the Cancer Society, Easter Seals, The Heart & Stroke Foundation, Peterborough Food Bank and Peterborough Warming Room. John works extensively with CNIB, often going into schools to give young people a sense of what it’s like to live with blindness and work with a guide dog. To make life better for others, he works with Council for Persons with Disabilities, the Transportation Committee, and Access Awareness Committee.

In 1994, in recognition of his efforts, he was given the City of Peterborough Award of Merit. John is one of the founding members of the Pathway of Fame, which recognizes in others the qualities and achievements so evident in John himself.

John Morris is living proof each of us should face our unique challenges; the quality of our lives lay in who we become, and what we accomplish.

• photo courtesy Clifford Skarstedt, The Peterborough Examiner

Many perform music but few live the experience 24-7.

As a lifelong entertainer, Earl Wilfong’s love of performing, anywhere and everywhere, is unparalleled. Where there’s an audience, there’s a will to do what he does and do it very well.

Born and raised in Peterborough, Wilfong’s passion for music was kindled at age 8 in church choir settings. A year later, he added the drums and guitar to his musical arsenal, forming his first band at age 11 before honing his talents through high school when, at age 17, he came away a winner from the Canadian Jazz Stage Band Festival, earning all-star drummer status in the process.

Wilfong subsequently took his talent across Canada and the United States, as well as overseas to Germany and The Netherlands. Comfortable with most any music genre, he has performed with Jack Bailey, Joe Henderson, Lisle, Highway and Blindstone Bridge, to name but a few. If that’s not impressive enough, he has shared stages with The Kentucky Headhunters, Rosanne Cash, The Good Brothers, Valdy, Burton Cummings and the late Jeff Healey.

Despite a busy performance schedule, one undeniable truth has remained a constant – Wilfong has never forgotten where he comes from. That has not only brought him numerous collaborations with local musicians such as Danny Bronson, Barry Haggarty and Cyril Rawson, but also benefitted numerous local organizations and charities. Simply put, Wilfong has rarely, if ever, said ‘No’ to gifting his talents to the benefit of this cause or that.

The list of benefactors of Wilfong’s charitable ways is long and varied: the United Way, the Children’s Aid Society, Activity Haven, the Canadian Cancer Society, The Festival of Trees, the Peterborough Regional Health Centre and the Peterborough arts community…the list goes on and on. The homeless, the hungry and the disenfranchised among us have had their plight eased as a result of Wilfong’s unwavering commitment to their wellbeing.

Just as he soaked up music at a young age, many a young aspiring musician has benefitted from Wilfong’s willingness to mentor them. For a number of years, he has taught music lessons, no doubt passing on the most important lesson of all in the process – love the music and the rest will fall into place.

Katherine Wallis was one of the earliest, and most influential visual artists to hail from the Peterborough area.

Her childhood love of painting and drawing turned into a passion for sculpture after visiting the renowned galleries of Europe. Katherine returned to Europe to study in London and on the Continent. Soon after, her works were winning prizes and exhibited in galleries around North America, as well as Europe.

Although residing in California for much of her adult life, Katherine Wallis retained a deep affection for Peterborough and area, donating a significant number of her works to the City. She was also an influential supporter of Peterborough’s Women’s Art Association, and the establishment of the Art Gallery of Peterborough.

As The Beatles were to ‘60’s generation, so were ‘The Dumbells’ to a generation at the first quarter of the 20th Century.  Formed to entertain troops during World War I, The Dumbbells became Canada’s first musical super-group, going on to great success as a vaudeville act following the War.

One of the founding members of The Dumbells, was Peterborough’s Morley Plunkett.  As vocalist, musician and comedic actor, Morley Plunkett was instrumental in popularizing such unforgettable standards as ‘Pack Up Your Troubles’ and ‘It’s A Long Way To Tipperary.’

Peterborough born, country music singer/songwriter, Colleen Peterson had one of the purest voices ever recorded in Canadian history.  She was a two time Juno winner, and her songs were featured constantly on country radio in Canada.

CBC supported her career as well.

During Colleen’s colorful career she recorded three albums with Capitol Records Canada. Sadly, these recordings are no longer available as the albums are no longer a part pf Capitol’s active catalogue.  Many of these songs can be found on Colleen’s My Space page, and this is the only known site to archive these great songs.

She also recorded her own CD in the early 1990’s called “What Comes Around Goes Around,” but here again this work is no longer available.  Peterson released one album for the indie company, Bookshop.

Colleen also recorded three albums as a part of Quartette during the early 1990’s and remain available through the Quartette website.

The final recording of Colleen’s work, “Postcards From California,”  was released posthumously in 2004 and is available through CD Baby.

Colleen Peterson is buried at Little Lake Cemetery.

Every now and then, we’re lucky to meet someone who is bigger than life; someone who exudes unbridled confidence and has the moxy to tell it like it is, damn the consequences. Combine that with a distinctly authoritative voice that demands our attention and, well, you have David John Badham.

John’s 60-year broadcasting career began in Weyburn, Saskatchewan where his booming baritone voice fell upon the ears of the province’s most popular radio station in Regina. He was hired as CKCK’s morning news anchor and became the iconic voice of the Saskatchewan Roughriders of the Canadian Football League.

After 10 years at CKCK, 1969 saw John summoned to Toronto to call games for the Toronto Argonauts. He did so for three Toronto radio stations before heading west to call games for the BC Lions and then returned east to do the same for the Ottawa Roughriders. Come 1988, John was seconded to Peterborough where he began a new adventure as morning news anchor for Power Broadcasting. What was to be a short-term job with KRUZ Radio and The WOLF turned into a 28-year tenure that built upon and solidified John’s legacy as a leading broadcaster, not just locally but across the country.

With morning show co-host Mike Melnik, John talked Peterborough. He challenged local politicians, calling them to task for their decisions and their waffling. He was controversial; he spoke his mind and listeners shook their heads in agreement or disbelief, and often both. Urged more than once to stand for election, John declined, saying he could do more Peterborough as a commentator. That he indeed did, morning after morning, hosting his own show on Extra 90.5 FM right up until his passing in late 2016.

Over his six decades behind a microphone, John covered Olympic and Commonwealth Games events, world and Canadian curling championships, and a Super Bowl. Along the way, he interviewed iconic sports figures such as Gordie Howe, Pele, Wilt Chamberlain and Muhammad Ali. When hockey great Bobby Hull signed his then unprecedented $1 million contract to play for the Winnipeg Jets of the World Hockey Association, John was there, the only reporter on hand.

Several honours have come John’s way, most recently a Career Achievement Award from Sports Media Canada for his outstanding contribution to Canadian sports. Voted into the Canadian Sports Hall of Fame in 1995, seven years earlier saw John receive the Foster Hewitt Award as Best Canadian Sportscaster.

Deeply devoted to his family, John and Dorothy were blessed with four children, 12 grandchildren and one great grandchild. Clearly, despite his many travels across this country, Peterborough was home for John.

photo courtesy Clifford Skarstedt, Peterborough Examiner

Paul Ayotte was a technical writer for General Electric of Canada, 1964-2002, but is best known for his remarkable contributions to municipal government. He represented Ashburnham ward, 1978-85, 1987-2003. He served as mayor of Peterborough from 2006 to 2010. During these years he served frequently on committees for finance, public transportation, council procedures and affordable housing.

After the Ides of July flood in 2004, he chaired the Peterborough Area Flood Relief Committee, and while mayor established and energized the Mayor’s Action Committee on Poverty (Peterborough’s first since 1875). During 28 years in public office he has been a tireless advocate for fighting poverty, building affordable housing and finding ways to help the disadvantaged. He then accepted the challenge of chairing the Peterborough United Way campaign for 2012.

His family has been in the area for eight generations, and he admired the community’s ability to meet challenges and to support those in need. He challenged people to give a “gift of hope.”

His amazing public career has always been about finding ways to lead, ways to better the community one person at a time.

Paul Ayotte photo courtesy MyKawartha.com

When reflecting upon Peterborough natives who have been heralded on a wider and grander stage for their achievements, Greg Wells is truly in select company.

An alumnus of Edmison Heights Public School and Adam Scott Collegiate, Wells is today a highly-respected, and world renowned record producer, songwriter, musician and audio engineer with song credits on more than 130 million albums sold.  At his Rocket Carousel Studio in Los Angeles, Wells has produced and written with numerous popular music icons ranging from Adele and Taylor Swift, to Celine Dion and Elton John.

Wells has garnered six Grammy Award nominations along the way, winning the coveted statue in 2018 for best compilation soundtrack for visual media for the 2017 film The Greatest Showman and again this year for his work on Michael Bublé’s album Higher.

Wells headed to Los Angeles at age 21 with the intent of returning to Canada. However Clare Fischer, the composer and string arranger for Prince, was soon recommending him as a pianist. Wells joined k.d. lang’s band soon after, performing with her on stage at the 1993 Grammy Awards.

While the City of Angels is now his home, Wells has never forgotten his Peterborough roots. His commitment to the health, and furtherance of the local music scene has remained consistent and noteworthy.

Clear evidence of this was his co-founding of the Don Skuce Memorial Music Collective, a fitting tribute to the late owner of Ed’s Music that sees local songwriters given the chance to have their submitted songs mixed and produced by him at his studio free of charge – an expense well beyond their means. In 2018, at the memorial service for Don Skuce, Wells performed as part of the send-off for his friend.

In addition, Wells paid the airfare for Peterborough music legend Bobby Watson to fly to Los Angeles where he recorded, and produced his new CD free of charge. Back in Peterborough, when Watson released the CD at the Historic Red Dog, Wells was again on hand, performing alongside him.

His numerous professional achievements and philanthropy aside, Wells remains an unabashedly proud ambassador of the rich musical heritage that has been, and remains, very much a key element of Peterborough’s DNA.

The soundtrack, of a City…

In 2025 Mr. Wells was appointed as a Member of The Order of Canada

We’ve all heard the old saying, “Necessity is the mother of invention,” and nowhere did these words ring with more truth than in 19th Century pioneer Ontario. Back then, solutions to problems had to be found or else you suffered the consequence. Through combinations of luck, patience, skill and determination, an Otonabee Township farmer, named David Fife, rescued one of five strands of wheat and essentially built a nation.

In the 1840’s, David Fife, a Scottish immigrant farming in the Lang-Keene area, realized a hardy strain of wheat, resistant to disease and frost, was a vital necessity. Noticing that one wheat-strand, grown from seeds sent from Scotland seemed hardier than others. David carefully separated and nurtured this strain. His effort became known as Red Fife Wheat and the fame of its durability spread to Western Canada. It’s argued that, without David’s invention, the Canadian Prairies wouldn’t have obtained a reputation as ‘the breadbasket of the world.’ Bountiful wheat harvests needed transportation to world markets, so Red Fife Wheat was a contributing factor in constructing the Canadian rail system which, by the way, would bind this disparate string of settlements into the Dominion of Canada.

It’s become a remarkable truth of history that, from one small, fragile strand of wheat, David Fife grew a nation.

John Turner’s life was one of complete commitment to the betterment of his community and indeed, of the world in which he lived. His existence can be summed up thus: he was citizen, family man, volunteer, World War Two veteran, business person, public servant – all the while conducting himself as a caring, concerned and true gentleman.

He dedicated himself to public life in an attempt to make his community, his Province and thereby our world a better place in which to live. His giving of himself to community betterment groups was legion, leading to City Council and a lengthy term at Queen’s Park as Member of Provincial Parliament for the Peterborough riding from 1971 through 1987.

To meet John Turner, it took very little time to assess his sincerity, and his caring for your cause (if you were furthering one) no matter what your political stripe.

A poignant paragraph in the Pathway of Fame nomination so aptly captures the essence of the man:

“John’s motto in life was to respect our freedom, learn from our elders and give back to Peterborough, to Ontario and to Canada in the form of volunteering as a personal thank-you for all we enjoy. This is how he raised his family, this was how he communicated to friends and associates, this was how he lived his life.”

On March 31st, 2014 Jeff Leal, then the Peterborough MPP and Minister of Rural Affairs announced that 55 kilometres of Highway 115 from Peterborough to the 401 MacDonald-Cartier Freeway, would be dedicated as the ‘John M. Turner Memorial Highway’ in honour of Turner’s pubic service.

Turner was a member of St. Paul’s Presbyterian Church, and a member of the Peterborough Rotary Club.

Mr. Turner died in 2013.