'Lakefield' (population 2400) is a village which is a part of the township of
Smith-Ennismore-Lakefield, and
Peterborough County,
Ontario, although it was formerly a separate village. The
Trent-Severn Waterway passes on the west. Although the marina in Lakefield was closed in 2003 for repairs, it was reopened in time for the 2006 boating season. Lakefield is the site of jazz and literary festivals every summer. There is also a buskers festival on the long weekend in May, which also marks the opening of the Trent-Severn canal. Lakefield is located about 14 km north of
Peterborough, slightly east of
Bridgenorth, south of
Buckhorn and
Apsley and west of
Highway 28.
Lake Katchewanooka, the source of the
Otonabee River, is found north of the village. The village has one public and one Catholic elementary school, a public and a private secondary school and numerous churches.
Education
Near the village is
Lakefield College School which
Prince Andrew, Duke of York attended in 1977. The campus was the filming location for the 1977 Canadian film "Age of Innocence". In the village itself is the
Ridpath Junior Public School named after
James William Ridpath, publisher in the early 19th century of the Lakefield News, local businessman, sportsman and dignitary. Located right in the village is the Lakefield District Secondary School. St. Paul's Catholic School situated very close to the high school is the area parochial school.
In fiction
In
Paul Nicholas Mason's novel, ''Battered Soles'' (2005), Lakefield is the site of a pilgrimage, begun in July of 1997, which sees thousands of pilgrims from all over the world walk from Peterborough along the Rotary Greenway Trail to St. John's Anglican Church in the village. The focus of the pilgrimage is a life-sized statue of a blue-skinned Jesus in the basement of the church.
Famous persons
★
Margaret Laurence, Canadian novelist
★
Susanna Moodie, Pioneer, Canadian writer and newspaper editor
★
Catharine Parr Traill, Pioneer, Canadian writer, naturalist (sister of Susanna Moodie)
★
Paul Nicholas Mason, Canadian writer
★
Leahy Family, Canadian band and
Natalie MacMaster
★
Bruce Ridpath, Professional ice hockey player who played on several Stanley Cup teams in the early-19th Century
★
James William Ridpath, Lakefield newspaper publisher and namesake of local public school
★ Troon Harrison, author of children and young adults' books
★
Ronnie "The Hawk" Hawkins, Country Music Artist
★
Paul Soles, actor, original voice of Spider-Man
Communities
See also
★
CAMMAC Ontario Music Centre's annual two-week summer camp is held at Lakefield College School
[1]
★
List of communities in Ontario