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
Our "Painter's Portraits" film premiere on Saturday (March 28) was a success! Several TVA volunteers, members and friends came out to Bagnani Hall at Traill College to see Nick van der Graaf's latest short documentary, which highlights the life and body of work of local artist Gilbert Painter. ![]()
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The screening of the film was followed by a very engaging discussion with Nick, TVA Archivist Elwood Jones, and TVA Board Member Al Kirby (who also created the soundtrack for the film). The audience asked some thoughtful questions and Nick, Elwood and Al provided some thoughtful answers.![]()
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We would like to thank everyone who came out to support the completion of this film and to learn more about one of Peterborough's under-appreciated artists. We would also like to thank Nick for bringing TVA and our Gilbert Painter fonds to life in this film. It's an excellent portrait of both! ![]()
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If you missed the screening and would like to see the film, stay tuned. We are exploring other ways in which we can share this film with the public.
PLEASE NOTE: The Trent Valley Archives will be closed this afternoon (from 1-4pm) for the premiere of Painter's Portraits.![]()
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Today's the day! Join us at 2pm this afternoon inside Bagnani Hall at Traill College for the premiere of Nick Van der Graaf's latest short documentary, Painter's Portraits. The film highlights the life and art of Gilbert Painter, an engineer who spent his retirement painting hundreds of portraits of Peterborough residents. ![]()
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The portraits now hang on the walls inside the Trent Valley Archives as part of our Gilbert Painter fonds, and are evocative of both the time period and the community they were painted in, reflected in the faces of the subjects. ![]()
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The film explores the significance of this under-appreciated artist and his body of work through interviews with people like Painter's son Robert (pictured here), TVA Archivist Elwood Jones and local artist Alex Bierk, alongside an up-close look at the portraits themselves. ![]()
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The screening will be followed by a discussion with the filmmaker and others involved in the creation of the film, and light refreshments will be provided. Tickets cost $10 each and can be purchased on Eventbrite, here: www.eventbrite.ca/e/painters-portraits-film-premiere-tickets-1985405905509?aff=oddtdtcreator&keep... or at the door. We hope to see you this afternoon!![]()
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[Image Credit: Nick Van der Graaf]
There are many local artists who have left their mark on our community through their extensive bodies of work. Several of them are well known, and have had their art exhibited in local galleries. Others are awaiting their turn for their work to be appreciated and remembered. ![]()
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One of them is Gilbert Painter, an engineer at GE in Peterborough who, in his retirement, honed his natural artistic abilities by paintings hundreds of portraits of residents from across the region. The portraits are reflective of the time period in which they were painted, and keenly showcase the features and personalities of each subject. Today, they hang on the walls inside the Trent Valley Archives as part of the Gilbert Painter fonds, which is where they caught the attention of local filmmaker Nick Van der Graaf. ![]()
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Nick's enthusiasm for the artist and his extensive body of work resulted in the creation of his next film, a 15-minute short documentary entitled Painter's Portraits. The documentary, featuring insightful commentary on Painters' life and artistic style, offers a rare look into one of our more unique archival fonds and positions Painter’s body of work within the context of the community that shaped it. ![]()
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The film is the perfect blend of history and art, and is sure to appeal to history buffs and art connoisseurs alike. If you want to be one of the first to see the film, we're hosting a screening THIS SATURDAY, March 28th at 2pm inside Bagnani Hall at Traill College. The screening of the film will be followed by a discussion with the filmmaker and others who made contributions to the film, and light refreshments will be provided. Tickets cost $10 each and can be purchased on Eventbrite, here: www.eventbrite.ca/e/painters-portraits-film-premiere-tickets-1985405905509?aff=oddtdtcreator&keep... or at the door. We hope you'll join us in supporting the film and bringing recognition to this under-appreciated artist.
We're just a week away from the world premiere of Nick Van der Graaf's new short documentary "Painter's Portraits"! Join us at Bagnani Hall at Traill College next Saturday, March 28 at 2pm to see the film, which features our Gilbert Painter fonds, a unique collection of portraits of Peterborough residents that have captivated all who have seen them. The film explores both the life of the artist himself, an engineer who devoted his retirement to nurturing his creative passions, and the artistic merit of his paintings through the lens of the community that shaped both art and artist. ![]()
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The screening will be followed by a discussion with the filmmaker and others who made contributions to the film, who will speak about both the filmmaking process and the collection of portraits itself. Light refreshments will be provided. Tickets to the screening cost $10 each and can be purchased in advance on Eventbrite, here: www.eventbrite.ca/e/painters-portraits-film-premiere-tickets-1985405905509?aff=oddtdtcreator&keep... or at the door.
The Gilbert Painter fonds at the Trent Valley Archives is a special one. Instead of sitting inside boxes, like most of our archival holdings, the material in this fonds hangs on the walls inside TVA. A collection of dozens of colourful portraits, they quietly look down on everyone who passes by on their way to retrieve a box from our main storage area. The portraits have captivated all who have seen them, including filmmaker Nick Van der Graaf, who was inspired to make them the subject of his next documentary film.![]()
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Entitled Painter's Portraits, this short film shines a spotlight on these portraits, which were all the work of one artist: Gilbert Painter. In the filmmaker's words: "Painter's Portraits," is a documentary short about the Trent Valley Archives collection of paintings by Peterborough artist Gilbert Painter. Painter, hailed in his youth as an artistic prodigy, became an engineer and after WWII worked at GE in Peterborough. Post-retirement he devoted himself to painting hundreds of portraits of local people from across the region. The breadth of the collection, and its relationship to the community, are explored in this 15-minute film."![]()
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To celebrate the completion of the film and its thoughtful portrayal of one of our more unique archival fonds, we're hosting a premiere at Bagnani Hall on the afternoon of Saturday, March 28 at 2pm. The screening of the film will be followed by a discussion with the filmmaker and others who made contributions to the film, who will speak about both the filmmaking process and the collection of portraits itself. Light refreshments will be provided.![]()
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Tickets to the screening cost $10 each and can be purchased in advance on Eventbrite, here: www.eventbrite.ca/e/painters-portraits-film-premiere-tickets-1985405905509?aff=oddtdtcreator&keep... or at the door.