Welcome to Trent Valley Archives

Trent Valley Archives Theatre Returning in 2026

June 4, 5, and 6 — A Fundraiser for The Trent Valley Archives at Market Hall Performing Arts Centre, Peterborough

Learn about last year’s play: Crossing Over: Sequel Tide of Hope


book cover - the kid from simcoe streetThe 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


Who is a mover and shaker? According to the Merriam-Webster dictionary, a mover and shaker is "a person who is active or influential in some field of endeavor," and fortunately for Peterborough, dozens of influential people have called the city home over its 150+ year history. On our Movers and Shakers tour this Sunday, August 24 at 11am, join local historian Karen Carter-Edwards in Little Lake Cemetery to learn about some of them. You'll hear their names, see their final resting places (often befitting their prominent place in the community), and explore why they could be considered a mover and shaker. Tickets cost $20 each and can be purchased on Eventbrite, here: www.eventbrite.ca/e/movers-and-shakers-tickets-1337358728959?aff=oddtdtcreator ... See MoreSee Less
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Our Women's History tour celebrates women from all walks of life who contributed to making Peterborough the vibrant community it is today, and we're pleased to be offering it again this year as a part of our 2025 tour season! Join local historian Karen Carter-Edwards in Little Lake Cemetery this Friday, August 22 at 7pm to learn about the artists, authors, athletes, educators, philanthropists, politicians and military professionals that our community would be nothing without. As you walk through the cemetery on what promises to be a quiet late summer evening, you'll hear the stories of women like Iva Campbell Fallis, one of Canada's first female senators, and Charlotte Nicholls, whose generous financial gifts funded significant public projects like hospitals and parks. Tickets cost $20 each and can be purchased on Eventbrite, here: www.eventbrite.ca/e/womens-history-tickets-1337315198759?aff=oddtdtcreator[Image Caption: Strike at Nashua Paper, August 16, 1972] ... See MoreSee Less
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3 weeks ago

Trent Valley Archives
Happening tomorrow afternoon! Don't miss Crossing Over Playwright Ed Schroeter's 10 minute play, Robinson Reconsidered.10 Minute Sunday - a festival of fast, fierce theatre -is coming to Peterborough! 🗓️ August 10✨ 10 original plays ⏱️ 10 minutes each 💵 Just $10 a ticket!📍 Tickets available now at the PTG box office or online here: ci.ovationtix.com/35868/production/1238993Discover exciting new work by Ontario playwrights—from sharp comedy to heartfelt drama—all packed into one unforgettable afternoon.📣 Ethel for Mayor Ethel's husband is running for mayor...again. What could possibly go wrong? 🚗 Carpool Commuters inadvertently drive into a Beckett play. 🏓 Let’s Play Pickleball Marj tries to convince her reluctant husband, Herb, to join the local pickleball club. 💬 Small Talk Paired by a blind date algorithm, a man and woman wrestle with the mistakes that ended their relationship 35 years earlier. ❓Wednesday Trivia Trivia night turns sideways when the host gets an unfortunate phone call. 📜 Peter Robinson Reconsidered A playwright gets dressed down by a historian for her interpretation of the 1825 settlement of Irish immigrants. 🤠 High Noon Two old frenemies stand off before a fateful train ride in this mock Western comedy. ✈️ Enjoy the Ride: Inspired by Anthony Bourdain A romantic tribute to Bourdain’s life philosophy. 📸 Photo Finish Sisters Fran and El make a shocking discovery while sorting their late mother’s keepsakes. 💘Another Word for Single Will Sam finally meet his true love in person or will another bizarre emergency keep them apart? ... See MoreSee Less
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1 month ago

Trent Valley Archives
A few of our publications will be represented at this event! ... See MoreSee Less
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