50th Anniversary Festivities: Five Counties Set to Mark its Golden Age With Family 50-Fest on Sept. 6 in Lindsay
LINDSAY, ON (Aug. 12, 2025) – It’s an anniversary worth celebrating, and Five Counties Children’s Centre in Lindsay is obliging with a fun, family-friendly event on the first Saturday of September.
Five Counties is organizing the free Family 50-Fest on Saturday, September 6, that runs from 10 am to 1 pm, at its location (9 Russell Street East) in Lindsay. The event is part of the Centre’s 50 anniversary festivities in 2025.
“For five decades, Five Counties has been privileged to support many children and youth with physical, developmental, and communication needs across the region,” says Darlene Callan, Director of Clinical Services at Five Counties. “Fifty years is a big milestone, so we’re pleased to invite our families and Kawartha Lakes community to join us for Family 50-Fest on September sixth.”
Family 50-Fest will include kids’ activities, petting zoo, circus performers, touch a fire truck, games, facepainting, story time, food, music and more. An open house/tour of Five Counties site in Lindsay will also be available, as will a display of historical articles and items from five decades of caring for kids
Current and former clients, families, supporters, volunteers and community members are invited to attend Family 50-Fest. Space is limited, so individuals and families who want to attend are asked to pre-register online for the event, email 50@fivecounties.on.ca, or call 1-888-779-9916, ext. 200.
Five Counties kids like Cade, as well as their families, are invited to attend Family 50-Fest on Sept. 6 being hosted by Five Counties Children’s Centre in Lindsay. The fun, family-friendly event is meant to celebrate the Centre’s 50th anniversary in 2025 of supporting children with physical, developmental and communication needs.
Providing care close to home for children and youth was the main driver for establishing a “children’s care centre” in this region in the early 1970s. Rotary Clubs from Peterborough, Lindsay, Minden, Haliburton and elsewhere came together to spearhead the project. With the help of local leaders and families of children with disabilities, they were able to convince the Ontario government to support the construction of Five Counties Children’s Centre, which opened its doors in Peterborough in 1975.
From day one, children from across the region – including Lindsay, the City of Kawartha Lakes (then known as Victoria County) and Haliburton County – were able to get assistance at Five Counties. Over time, the need to provide care even closer to home for children and family became evident, which led to Five Counties establishing a location in Lindsay in 1981 at Ross Memorial Hospital. That same year, Five Counties clinicians began travelling each month to provide services in Haliburton County.
Five Counties eventually moved out of the Ross to set up its own site in Lindsay. After multiple moves in Lindsay, the Centre has been located at its present site on Russell Street East since 2006. In 2024/25, Five Counties served 1,359 children in the City of Kawartha Lakes and 229 clients in Haliburton County – representing 26% of its total client base.
