Celebrating our 25th Anniversary in 2026
A word from our Mayor:
From County to City, we are all Kawartha Lakes.
As we wrap up 2025 and gear up for 2026, we’re coming up to an important milestone: Kawartha Lakes is celebrating its 25th anniversary as a single-tier municipality.
Celebrating the 25-year anniversary of Kawartha Lakes is a meaningful opportunity to reflect on how far our municipality has come since our transformation from Victoria County. Over the past quarter century, residents, businesses, and community partners have grown together, shaping a municipality built on collaboration, pride, and shared identity.
As part of the 2026 celebrations, history and photo displays at City Hall will showcase the people, milestones, and stories that helped define this journey. These displays offer residents, both new and long-standing, a chance to reconnect with the moments that brought us together.
This anniversary is also a time to reaffirm our commitment to community spirit and progress. By honouring our shared history while looking forward to our future, we celebrate not only what has been achieved, but also the vibrant, united path ahead. Together, we continue to build a stronger, more connected Kawartha Lakes.
- Mayor Doug Elmslie
Calling all Artists of Kawartha Lakes!
Are you an aspiring artist? We know we have some of the most talented artists around and we’re not shy about saying it! To celebrate our 25th anniversary, we’re inviting all artists to show off their skills:
- Colour a special colouring page
- Tag us or drop off your finished page
- Get featured on our social media!
Grab your colouring page at the Service Centre nearest you and let your creativity shine. We can’t wait to see your masterpieces and watch out for more buildings coming soon!
You can also download the colouring pages here, print them off at home and submit your finished colouring pages to history@kawarthalakes.ca!
January 4, 2026
Mayor's Levee
Community Anniversaries and Events
- Creation of the Queen Elizabeth II Wildlands Provincial Park in Kirkfield (2002)
- 150th Anniversary of Lindsay (2007)
- 125th Anniversary of Woodville (2009)
- Olympic Torch Relay through Lindsay and Omemee (2010)
- Kawartha Lakes featured on Monopoly Canada Edition (2010)
- 125th Anniversary of the Trent-Severn Waterway (2010)
- Hosted The Tragically Hip Concert in Bobcaygeon (2011)
- World’s Largest LipDub in Lindsay (2012)
- Creation of the Carden Alvar Provincial Park in Carden (2014)
- Pan-Am Torch Relay through Lindsay and Omemee (2015)
- CBC’s Still Standing featuring Omemee and Jonny Harris “Goof” (2016)
- Host of Neil Young’s Home Town Concert in Omemee (2017)
- Hosted Vince Dunn and the Stanley Cup in Lindsay (2019)
- Host of Hometown Hockey in Lindsay (2021)
- 150th Anniversary of the Kinmount Fair (2022)
- 125th Anniversary of Sturgeon Point (2024)
- 150th Anniversary of Fenelon Falls (2024)
- 150th Anniversary of Omemee (2024)
- 170th Anniversary of the Lindsay Fair (2024)
- Host of the International Plowing Match in Lindsay (2024)
- 150th Anniversary of the arrival of Icelandic Pioneers (2025)
- 200th Anniversary of the Peter Robinson Emigration (2025)
- James Barker Band’s One of Us music video featuring Woodville (2025)
Cultural Events of Significance
- Annual Fairs in Kinmount, Bobcaygeon, Fenelon Falls and Lindsay
- Coboconk Fresh Water Summit Festival
- Kawartha Settler’s Village Festival of Trees
- Ontario Open Fiddle and Step Dance Contest in Bobcaygeon
- Norland’s Summer Festival
- National Fishing Competitions on Sturgeon Lake
- Annual Regattas on Sturgeon Lake
- Kawartha Arts Festival
- Kawartha Farmfest
- Annual Canada Day celebrations
- Annual Santa Claus Parades, Santa Runs, and Santa Days
Notable Recognitions
- Designated as a Bee City (2017)
- Placed top-four as Canada’s Best Municipal Flag, winning as Ontario’s Best Municipal Flag (2022)
- Leader in Sustainability Award (2023)
- Designated as a Bird-Friendly City (2024)
- Adopted the Osprey as our Official Bird (2024)
Achievements
- Creation of the Kawartha Lakes Public Library system
- Downtown Revitalizations of Lindsay, Fenelon Falls, Bobcaygeon, and Omemee
- Million Dollar Makeovers
- Connecting Links Project in Omemee
- Arena Rehabilitations in Bobcaygeon, Little Britain, Woodville, and Omemee
- New Community Centre and Arena in Fenelon Falls
- Park redevelopments in Bobcaygeon and Lindsay
- Launched the Arts and Heritage Trail
- Adoption of the Official Plan and Secondary Plans
- Consolidated Rural Zoning By-Law
- Completion of the North-West Trunk System
- Completion of 68 Lindsay St – our first purpose-built supportive housing building
- Coboconk Summit Wellness Centre
- Coboconk Dam and Wharf Rehabilitation
- Kirkfield Liftlock Rehabilitation
- Restoration of the Pontypool Grain Elevator
What’s Coming Next
- 150th Anniversary of Bobcaygeon (2026)
- Colborne Street Bridge in Lindsay
- New Paramedic Headquarters
- Active Transportation Expansion
- New Police Building
- New Water and Water Plants
- Expanded Transportation System
- Hi-Speed Rail Access
- Cultural Centre
- A-OTHR Radar System
Compilation by Warren Frank
Songs of Kawartha Lakes
This playlist is a collection of artists from around Kawartha Lakes that attempts to paint a picture of the diverse sounds and styles that artists bring to our beautiful community. Genres span from Rock to Country, Hip Hop to Folk and more! Listeners will enjoy the familiarity of established acts that are recognized on the world stage and find themselves engaged with music from new and emerging acts as well. We hope you enjoy what the artists in your neighbourhood have been creating.
- "Smaller" by Asthma Kids
- "Never Let Me Go" by Bowes
- "Love’s a Game" by Burning Bridges
- "You Made it Home" by Close Kicks
- "Purple Kisses" by Adam Crossman
- "S.O.S." by Dwayne Gretzky
- "Just Need To" by emmersonHALL
- "Different Now" by emmersonHALL
- "Makes Me Feel" by freddyboy
- "Run" by Gamekeeper
- "Essentials" by Jonathan Greer
- "Only Love" by Jeff Gutteridge
- "Take Me Home" by Jeff Gutteridge
- "Didn’t Matter Anyway" by Heaps
- "War Cry" by High Vines
- "Precious Cargo" by Intimidators
- "Chills" by James Barker Band
- "Lawn Chair Lazy" by James Barker Band
- "Pieces" by Sean Jamieson
- "Beat of Your Heart" by Looking for Heather
- "Home" feat Baia Lyric, Louwop, BAIA LYRIC
- "Poeta Rebelde" by Louwop
- "Diagnosis" by Cassie Noble
- "Serious" by Cassie Noble
- "Asphalt" by Danté Ravenhearst
- "Gonna Love You" by Shannon Roszell
- "Here’s My Heart" by SayWeCanFly
- "Sweep Me Off My Feet" by Simon and the Island
- "Kids" by Soup
- "Let’s Go For A Ride" by Soup
- "Atlantic Ocean" by The DGB
- "Like I Do" by The Ditch Lilies
- "Something About Her" by The Kents
- "The Stakes" by The Kents
- "Bad Country" by The Rootmen
- "Come Back Around" by The Strumbellas
- "Spirits" by The Strumbellas
- "I Know What You Like" by Jeanne Truax
- "Heart of Gold" by Neil Young
- "Rockin’ in the Free World" by Neil Young
