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
Join us for the launch of Harmen Boersma's 2025 book "Spirituality & Culture in Local Community: 1775-2025" at Living Hope Church (1 Consumers Place in Peterborough) next Thursday, June 25th from 7-9pm! ![]()
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Featuring a forward by Elwood H. Jones, Historian and Archivist at the Trent Valley Archives, this commentary on the over 250-year history of Peterborough County explores various kinds of spirituality and how they can affect the daily life of a community, using the County as a case study.![]()
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Following the two communities that established the area many of us call home - the Anishinaabe people who originally inhabited the land and the European immigrants who came to settle on it - the book tells the story of their meeting in the Peterborough area and the evolution of the relationship between them. ![]()
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It also features biographies of five community leaders, each representing a 50-year period in the history of the community. From Chief George Paudash to Mayor Sylvia Sutherland, the role of each one as a spiritual and cultural leader is highlighted and discussed.![]()
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The author, Harmen Boersma, is originally from the Netherlands but came to Canada with his wife after the Second World War. He graduated with a B.Ed and has studied for his master’s degree in history. He has taught in four independent Christian Schools in Ontario, Canada, operated a public relations company with his spouse and in retirement writes about topics that are current and close to his heart.![]()
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Come out to Living Hope Church to hear Harmen speak about the book, the critical themes it addresses, and the process of researching and writing this unique contribution to local history. Copies of the book will also be for sale at the event for $35 each (Please note that we can only accept cash and cheques at this event, so please bring some cash with you if you would like to purchase a copy of the book.)![]()
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Although the event is free to attend, donations are appreciated to support the work we do to preserve the history of Peterborough County and the surrounding areas. To RSVP, make a donation, or pre-purchase a copy of the book that can be picked up at the event, please visit our Eventbrite listing, here: www.eventbrite.ca/e/spirituality-culture-in-local-community-book-launch-tickets-1991870556454?aff...
Now that we've had some time to reflect on this year's Trent Valley Archives Theatre production, "The Kid from Simcoe Street," we wanted to share some of the rave reviews we received from those who took the time to fill out our audience feedback survey at the end of each of our four performances, along with a few of our favourite photographs taken by our Platinum (In-Kind) Sponsor Jordan Lyall Photography at our two dress rehearsals on June 2 and 3. ![]()
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We would like to thank everyone who shared their thoughts about the play (and our marketing strategy) with us. Each and every one of your survey responses has been carefully reviewed by our Trent Valley Archives Theatre (TVAT) Committee and will be used to improve future Trent Valley Archives Theatre productions. ![]()
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Our TVAT Committee will be taking a summer break, but we've already started planning our next production, "Fowke Tales Revisited" which will be performed at the Market Hall in May of 2027. A joint collaboration between playwright and director Gerry McBride and folk musician and music scholar Dr. Allan Kirby, it will highlight Canadian folklorist Edith Fowke’s mission to collect Canadian folk music, a mission that brings her to the Towns General Store in Douro.
Many Peterborough citizens served in the First and Second World Wars. But did you know that some Peterborough citizens served in other conflicts as well? Discover their names and hear their stories on this Sunday's "Honouring Our Military History" tour in Little Lake Cemetery (June 14 at 2pm) with military historian Don Willcock. ![]()
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As you pay your respects at their final resting places, you'll learn about people like John Roche, who served in the Royal Navy under Horatio Nelson during the Napoleonic Wars; Colonel John Wesley Miller, who served in the American Civil War and was captured at the Battle of Gettysburg; and Achilles Turner, who served in the Boer War and was awarded the South Africa Medal by Queen Victoria. ![]()
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Tickets cost $20 each and can be purchased on Eventbrite, here: www.eventbrite.ca/e/honouring-our-military-history-tickets-1988559444830?aff=oddtdtcreator&keep_t...![]()
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NOTE: This is a walking tour in Little Lake Cemetery that covers a large portion of the cemetery grounds. It stays on the main roadways whenever possible, but covers some uneven and hilly ground and may not be accessible to everyone. Wear comfortable shoes and dress appropriately for the weather, as the tour will run rain or shine.
June is a significant month in military history, as June 6 marks the anniversary of D-Day and the Allied invasion in Normandy. To commemorate this anniversary and Canadian Armed Forces Day, which is observed on the first Sunday in June, we're running our "Honouring Our Military History" tour this Sunday, June 14 at 2pm. ![]()
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Join military historian Don Willcock in Little Lake Cemetery to learn more about Peterborough residents who served their country in a variety of conflicts, from the Napoleonic Wars right though to the Second World War. Some of them fought directly at the front lines and others played a supporting role. Some returned home to their families and others would never get to see their families again. Regardless of how they left their mark, all of them led remarkable lives that are worthy of remembrance. ![]()
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If you'd like to honour these courageous men and women with us, there are still tickets available to the tour. They cost $20 each and can be purchased on Eventbrite, here: www.eventbrite.ca/e/honouring-our-military-history-tickets-1988559444830?aff=oddtdtcreator&keep_t...![]()
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NOTE: This is a walking tour in Little Lake Cemetery that covers a large portion of the cemetery grounds. It stays on the main roadways whenever possible, but covers some uneven and hilly ground and may not be accessible to everyone. Wear comfortable shoes and dress appropriately for the weather, as the tour will run rain or shine.
A reminder that today is the last day to fill out our Audience Feedback survey and enter for your chance to win a copy of James Clarke's 2012 memoir "The Kid from Simcoe Street!" If you no longer have the leaflet that came inside your program with the QR code linking to the survey, you can access the survey here: docs.google.com/forms/d/e/1FAIpQLSeb6Fqt3TenyqKorCXFudud_Im9NQkgIxqzfU4ICvGSD9Ym1w/viewform?usp=p...