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
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
We're gearing up for our last Peterborough Perpetrators tour of 2025! We had a full group last week who were just as enthusiastic about the new story additions as the first group, and we're excited to run the tour one more time for those of you who haven't had a chance to hear the new stories. ![]()
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The tour will be taking place TOMORROW July 25 at 7pm, and knowledgeable tour guide Maddie More is ready to take you on a walk through Downtown Peterborough to tell you about some of Peterborough most notorious (and lesser-known crimes). Tickets cost $20 each and can be purchased on Eventbrite, here: www.eventbrite.ca/e/peterborough-perpetrators-tickets-1337312590959?aff=ebdsoporgprofile
If you missed your chance to see Nick van der Graaf's film The Backwoodsman at ReFrame earlier this year, he will be screening the film again this Thursday, July 24 at 3pm. The screening is presented in conjunction with Nine Ships and the Bicentennial of the Peter Robinson Irish Emigration to our region in 1825, and will be held at the community room inside the main branch of the Peterborough Public Library. ![]()
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The Backwoodsman is a short film that tells the story behind the folk song "The Backwoodsman," a song about a young lumberman who abandons his job hauling wood to go out drinking and dancing, and explores its connections to working class people and the strong Irish community in the Peterborough area.![]()
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Featuring interviews and musical performances from folk musicians and historians, the film documents not only the cultural context and meaning behind the song, but also the local musicians working in our area today to keep folk music and folk traditions alive for generations to come. ![]()
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The screening is free to attend and open to the public. We were proud to sponsor the film at ReFrame this year and strongly encourage you to go to the screening to see the film if you haven't already. It's an excellent exploration of working class culture and folk music traditions in our area!
Nobody captures the spirit of Ontario communities like photographer John McQuarrie, and we're excited to announce that he has finally added Peterborough to his Spirit of Place book series! The perfect addition to any Peterburian's coffee table, this 150+ page book features dozens of McQuarrie's gorgeous full colour photographs of Peterborough and the surrounding area paired with articles written by local authors and historians, including our archivist, Elwood Jones. ![]()
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Just in time for the Bicentennial of the Peter Robinson Irish Emigration to our region in 1825, the book features an article written by Patrick Leahy, a descendant of one of the Peter Robinson emigrants, about the Emigration. ![]()
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Copies of the book are $38 each and are expected to release on August 1, although they can be pre-ordered now by calling us at 705-745-4404 or emailing us at admin@trentvalleyarchives.com. In August, they will be available for purchase at our archives building during our operating hours, on our website, and at our table at the Nine Ships Bicentennial Heritage Fair from August 1-8 (which is taking place at the Knights of Columbus Hall in Peterborough from 10am-4pm each day). ![]()
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As a special offer, each copy of Peterborough: Spirit of Place will also come with a copy of McQuarrie's previous book Trent Severn Waterway, free of charge!
This is your final reminder that we're running our second (and last) Tragic Tales tour of the season tomorrow at 2pm! Join knowledgeable tour guide Mona Wilkes in Little Lake Cemetery to step back in time to turn-of-the-century Peterborough and listen to some of our city's most tragic tales. Featuring people from all walks of life who experienced every kind of tragedy, there is guaranteed to be at least one story on the tour that moves you. ![]()
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Tickets cost $20 each and can be purchased on Eventbrite, here: www.eventbrite.ca/e/tragic-tales-tickets-1336967910009?aff=ebdsoporgprofile You are also welcome to bring exact change to the tour tomorrow!
REPRINT ALERT! ☘️ A clean copy of Yesteryear at Young's Point by Nathaway Nan was brought to us earlier this year and has allowed us to reprint the 1983 book, in collaboration with the Young family. The book has been out of print for quite some time, and a limited number of copies were printed, so you'll want to jump on the opportunity to purchase one while you have the chance! The reprint comes just in time for Young's Point's 200 Years on the Water anniversary event on Sunday, August 3 and is the perfect addition to your bookshelf if you have family ties to Young's Point or a personal interest in the history of this thriving community on the water. A very limited number of copies are for sale in our bookstore for $25 each, but copies will also be for sale at the 200 Years on the Water event in August.