Keene is a small community in Ontario, Canada, with a population of about 500 people. It is located on the northern shore of Rice Lake, and as such is a popular waypoint for people coming to enjoy fishing, camping and cottaging in the Kawarthas. It is the central hub of Otonabee-South Monaghan Township, and houses the Municipal Office on Fourth Street, directly across from the Otonabee-South Monaghan Fire Department's Station One.
Natural attractions in the Keene area focuses mainly on the local Serpent Mounds Campgrounds and Historical Site. Serpent Mounds, a past provincial park before being returned to the Hiawatha First Nations people, is a historically significant burial grounds for the Native people. In addition to the mounds and campgrounds, Serpent Mounds also has a groomed beach for swimming and several kilometers of walking and biking trails. Another popular pastime in the Keene area is fishing. Rice Lake is known to many as a great spot for some boating and fishing. There are also several resorts with water access points, such as Elmhirst's Resort. Also small business' that cater to tourists with a local grocery store and Patricia's Gift Shop located in a Victorian House. Keene is also home to a school of approximately 600 students called North Shore Public School. This school is the main elementary school for Keene itself as well as the outlying farm families. North Shore is a feeder school for Thomas A. Stewart Secondary School, and has a longstanding tradition of producing both excellent athletes and excellent academic students. The village has a two-sheet curling club. Keene is located about 20 km (12 miles) from the larger city of Peterborough. Keene was voted one of the Prettiest towns in Ontario by Harrowsmith magazine.
