Trent Valley Archives Theatre Returning in 2026
June 4, 5, 6 and 7 — A Fundraiser for The Trent Valley Archives at Market Hall Performing Arts Centre, Peterborough. Click here for more information.
The Kid from Simcoe Street
In our adaptation of this moving World War II era memoir, James Clarke recalls growing up in the poor and alcohol-ridden neighbourhood of downtown Peterborough.
As a boy, his father had been a foot soldier, but after coming home from the battlefields he turned to manic drinking and belligerence, shattering his wife’s dreams, and casting a dark shadow over James’ boyhood.
This story, told with emotion that is unflinching in its honesty, lets us see just how remarkable it is that James Clarke became not only a man esteemed and honoured as a judge of the Superior Court of Ontario, but as a respected poet, too.
Purchase your copy from Exile Editions
Have you seen the updated Heritage Gazette?
We are pleased to continue and expand on the pioneering work of archivist Elwood Jones and Steve Gavard as we explore the near and distant past in this full colour publication.
View the current and past issues
If you're looking to make a difference in your community in 2026, why not consider volunteering with us? We're currently looking for Bookstore Assistant Volunteers and Archival Project Volunteers! ![]()
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We publish and sell several local history books at the Trent Valley Archives, and it is essential that each sale is properly processed and documented. To help keep our bookstore running smoothly, we are installing a Square point of sale system that will be used to process book sales and other payments, and we're looking for a dedicated group of volunteers who have experience with (or are willing to learn) how to process payments using this point of sale system. In addition to using the point of sale system, our bookstore assistant volunteers will help keep our bookstore shelves stocked and tidy and may be asked to perform other duties as required. ![]()
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Preserving the documents, photographs, films, and other materials in our care is at the core of what we do at the Trent Valley Archives, and we are always looking for volunteers who have an interest in working directly with our over 1,200 (and counting!) archival fonds. Our archival project volunteers work closely with our Archivist to process new donations, create finding aids to improve access to existing collections and digitize materials for online access, among other tasks. While volunteering in the archives, you'll experience local history firsthand and learn more about the community you live in, while helping others to do the same.![]()
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If you have any questions or would like to apply for one of these positions, please send an email to admin@trentvalleyarchives.com. You can also find more information about these positions on our Volunteer Peterborough profile, here: volunteerpeterborough.ca/opportunities/
If you're looking to make a difference in your community in 2026, why not consider volunteering with us? We currently have openings on our Board of Directors, Grants Committee and Membership and Volunteer Committee! ![]()
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Board of Directors: Our board is essential to keeping our non-profit organization running smoothly. It oversees our daily operations and all of our other activities. Our board is comprised of community members of different backgrounds, and we are always looking for board members with transferable skills that can be applied to their time spent on our board. We have a couple openings for new members on our board this year; new board members will stand for election at our Annual General Meeting this April, and attend their first board meeting in May. We hold our board meetings virtually on the third Thursday of every month. Note: Our by-laws state that all Trent Valley Archives board members must be members of the Trent Valley Archives. ![]()
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Grants Committee: Our organization receives no consistent funding from any level of government, so our Grants Committee performs an essential role in seeking out the funding we need for large archival projects, equipment upgrades, repairs to our heritage building, and more. They seek out and apply for grant opportunities from municipal, provincial and federal levels of government, as well as from other sources, based on project recommendations from the Board and the Archivist.![]()
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Membership and Volunteer Committee: One of our largest revenue streams comes from membership, and our Membership and Volunteer Committee oversees membership recruitment and retention, ensuring that our current members renew their memberships when they're due and exploring ways to improve our membership program and attract new members. They also oversee volunteer recruitment and retention, helping to identify volunteer needs and fill volunteer positions, in addition to ensuring that existing volunteers are properly recognized and appreciated. ![]()
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If you have any questions or would like to apply for one of these positions, please send an email to admin@trentvalleyarchives.com. You can also find more information about these positions on our Volunteer Peterborough profile, here: volunteerpeterborough.ca/organizations/trent-valley-archives-2/
If you're looking to make a difference in your community in 2026, why not consider volunteering with the Trent Valley Archives? Volunteering with us is a win-win scenario, since, in addition to supporting the preservation of our community's history, you'll also be keeping your mind and body active as you work alongside other volunteers to achieve a common goal. We've fostered a fantastic group of volunteers over the years, and we would love to have you join our team.![]()
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What makes a great Trent Valley Archives volunteer? We're looking for volunteers who are passionate about local history, and who want to help preserve it and share it with the community. However, you don't need to have experience working/volunteering in a heritage setting to volunteer with us! We appreciate volunteers who come to us with transferable skills from their careers and other interests. Our non-profit organization is strengthened when people with experience in governance, finance, administration, marketing, fundraising and other fields share their knowledge and expertise with us. ![]()
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Yesterday, we sent out an email to our email subscriber list highlighting our available volunteer positions, which you can read here: mailchi.mp/ad99e8e9ba08/news-from-the-trent-valley-archives-february-18240234 We'll also feature each one on our social media later this week. If you're enthusiastic, reliable and able to dedicate a few hours a week (or more) to volunteering with us, then stay tuned to see what positions are available!
The print edition of our October 2025 issue of the Heritage Gazette has finally arrived! Now, you can read this issue's standout articles, like Dana Lynch's article "From Ireland to Hollywood," in hard-copy format. ![]()
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If you are already subscribed to the print edition of the Heritage Gazette, your issue is ready for pickup (or mailing, depending on your subscription). If you are not a subscriber but would like to be, please contact us at 705-745-4404 or admin@trentvalleyarchives.com. An annual subscription includes 3 issues and is $30 (for pickup at TVA) or $40 (including shipping). Individual issues can also be purchased at our archives building for $15 each. ![]()
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We are hard at work on our next issue of the Heritage Gazette and can't wait to share it with you in the coming weeks! Thank you for your patience as our volunteer Heritage Gazette team works to catch up on our publishing schedule.
We hope everyone who is celebrating is having a very Merry Christmas with their loved ones! We wanted to share one final festive photograph with you today, which we think perfectly personifies the phrase "Christmas miracle!" It was published in the Peterborough Examiner on December 26, 1970 with the caption: Christmas at Civic Hospital (p.15):. Nurse Margaret Tolmie and baby, Brenda May Fallis.