Discover and explore gems, minerals and fossils
The Kawartha Rock and Fossil Club will hold its 24th annual Peterborough Gem, Mineral and Fossil Show on Saturday and Sunday from 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. both days at the Evinrude Centre, 911 Monaghan Rd.
The purpose of the show is to promote a greater appreciation of Canada’s natural resources and to promote the hobby of rock collecting and the lapidary arts, according to Robert Beckett, past president and show chairman.
“With our annual show, we hope to raise awareness of minerals and fossils to the general public, as well as raise funds for the Kawartha Rock and Fossil Club,” says Beckett. “Every year we strive to increase the attendance. Last year we had a little over 4,500 visitors attend the show. This year we would love to see that number increase to 5,000. We will have free mineral and fossil specimens while supplies last to give to all children under 12 attending the show.”
The show features dealers from across Ontario and Quebec who will be displaying rock, mineral and fossil specimens, meteorites, faceted stones, gemstone jewellery, fluorescent rocks, stone carvings, crystals, stone and glass beads and more.
“As an added feature this year we will have a “Touch Stand” where people can touch a Martian and Lunar Meteorite we have on loan from the Royal Ontario Museum,” he continues. “We laugh that the headline might be ‘Martian and Lunar Meteorite to hit Peterborough on Saturday and Sunday.’”
A large display area will feature mineral, mining and fossil displays from members of the Kawartha Club and prominent Ontario collectors. The Bancroft Gem & Mineral Club will also have information available about their 1,100 sq ft Mineral Museum in Bancroft.
The popular sand box mine is a free activity for children where they can dig for rocks, minerals and fossils that they can keep. Club members will be on hand to help identify the treasures.
“The kids really enjoy digging up their own treasures,” Beckett says. “Over the last year our club members have again collected hundreds of kilograms of rocks that will be used to ‘salt the mine’ throughout the weekend. It is our hope that by getting rocks and fossils into the hands of children that we will spark an interest for them in the world around us.”
Admission is $4 per person and children under 12 accompanied by a paying adult are free. For more information please visit www. rockandfossil.com.
Pancake Supper
Grace United Church, 581 Howden St., is holding an allyou-can-eat Pancake Supper on Shrove Tuesday, Feb. 28 from 5:30 to 6:30 p.m., adults $10, children 12 and under $5. Tickets are available at the church, 705-7425846.
Therapy Dog Info Session
East Central Therapy Dogs will be holding an information session for anyone who may be interested in joining the organization on Wednesday, March 1 at 7 p.m. at Applewood Retirement Residence, 1500 Lansdowne St. W.
For more information, call 705652-7092 or visit www.ectd.ca.