Community & Storytelling
Voices of
Kawartha Lakes.
Creating space for more stories, more perspectives, and a fuller reflection of our community.
Creating space for more stories, more perspectives, and a fuller reflection of our community.
Not every voice is equally represented in local media. Some stories never get told at all.
Pick up most community publications and you'll notice a pattern. The same kinds of people. The same neighbourhoods. The same perspectives. Not because other stories don't exist, but because the systems that produce local media have always tended toward the familiar.
Kawartha Lakes is not one story. It is dozens. It is the family that moved here from across the world and built something new. The teenager who knows this region better than anyone and has never been asked to write about it. The longtime resident whose memories reach back through decades of change that nobody has thought to document.
Those stories don't belong on the margins. They belong where neighbours meet and where possibilities thrive. At Fireside, we believe a local publication only earns its place in a community when it reflects that community honestly and fully.
"Community media should make every reader feel that their story is worth telling too."
Kawartha Lakes, Ontario
Expanding who tells stories and whose stories get told is not a single decision. It is a practice. Here is how we think about it.
You don't need journalism experience to have a story worth sharing. We actively seek out first-time writers, community members, and people who have never been published before, and we work with them to bring their stories to life.
We look at every issue and ask: whose lives are we reflecting? Whose are we missing? Being intentional means going beyond convenience and actively pursuing stories that widen the circle.
Our editorial team is committed to covering more parts of the region, more cultural communities, and more aspects of local life than we ever have before.
Submitting to a publication can feel intimidating. We make it straightforward. Writers and photographers who reach out can expect a real response, honest feedback, and editorial guidance that respects their effort.
These are not one-off features. They are long-term editorial commitments to voices and perspectives that matter.
Every community has untapped storytellers. New Voices is dedicated to first-time writers and emerging contributors who have something to say about life in Kawartha Lakes. Professional experience is not the point. Perspective is.
Contribute to this series
Kawartha Lakes is home to people who carry stories from other places and other languages. This series creates space for those stories to be shared across cultures, bridging the gaps that geography and language can create.
Contribute to this series
Young people are already shaping the future of this region. Next Gen Kawartha is a platform for youth voices, giving the next generation of thinkers, makers, and community members a place to speak for themselves.
Contribute to this seriesTypes of stories we're looking for
To get started, send us a brief note about your idea or your background. No formal pitch required. We'll take it from there.
Send Us Your Story
Contributing a story is one way to get involved. But participation in Fireside's community coverage takes many forms. Here's how you can connect.
We regularly put out open calls for contributors focused on specific themes, seasons, and editorial series. Follow our publications to stay up to date.
Know someone with a story worth telling? Nominate a neighbour, a local business, or a community figure for a profile. We love a good tip.
If you know of a community or group whose stories aren't being told, reach out. We are always looking for people to help us find the gaps.
Writers and photographers who want a longer-term relationship with Fireside are always welcome to reach out. We build relationships with contributors over time.
Fireside Publishing House is committed to building a more inclusive local media platform over time. We know we don't always get it right. But we show up every month with the intention to do better, to listen more carefully, and to make sure the stories we tell are worthy of the community we serve.
Every issue should feel like it belongs to everyone who lives here, not just a familiar slice of it.
Inclusive storytelling isn't a special edition or a one-time feature. It is built into every editorial decision we make.
Our long-term goal is a media ecosystem where every reader in Kawartha Lakes can find themselves ON the page.
The conversation about who gets to tell Kawartha Lakes' story is still just beginning. In the months ahead, we'll be expanding our coverage of local immigrant and newcomer experiences, deepening our connection to rural and agricultural communities, and creating more opportunities for youth to contribute to our publications.
We're also working on new formats, new platforms, and new ways to reach readers who haven't found Fireside yet. Because a story is only as powerful as the people who are able to hear it.
Every community is full of stories that deserve to be heard. If you have one, we want to tell it with you. Reach out and let's start a conversation.