Peterborough DBIA’s Golden Goose Chase Winner Catches $1,500 in Boro Gift Cards

The Peterborough Downtown Business Improvement Area (DBIA) congratulates winner Susan Donald who took home $1,500 in Boro gift cards from the Golden Goose Chase Scavenger Hunt.

Donald, the winner, photographed at Bhojan Grocery - a new Indian grocery store located on George Street.  photo courtesy of the peterborough dbia.

This spring, the DBIA led a brand new downtown retail incentive program which took locals on a “wild goose chase” in search of golden eggs for a chance to win a $1,500 Boro gift card shopping spree.

The focus of this initiative was on bringing the magic and excitement back into in-person shopping experiences. 200 participants joined the hunt with over 100 active scavenger hunters.

“I love supporting small businesses and shopping locally because you’re supporting families above all else. You get to know the people who you’re buying from, which is so much more meaningful than buying from large corporations,” says Donald.

Many participating businesses noticed an increase of foot traffic to the downtown retail shops as locals explored the downtown in search of golden eggs. 

“We had one group of friends come into our store, a couple of whom had just moved here from Toronto. They had learned about the scavenger hunt and told us they were visiting about six different stores looking for the golden eggs, making purchases along the way as they discovered businesses,” says Andrew Damiany, owner of Gentry Apparel. 

Throughout the program, golden eggs were strategically hidden inside a variety of downtown retail locations on a rotating schedule. This whimsical downtown scavenger hunt utilized a mobile app called Goosechase, where participating players would take an image of each individual egg they found to increase their number of entries into the draw. All 20 eggs were hand-painted by local artists with each egg showcasing their own unique style. 

“It’s been really nice to see people getting excited for the summer and also getting out to explore small businesses and local retailers while having fun in the process,” says Bhojan co-owner Aniket Khera.

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Innovation Cluster Announces Peruvian-Canadian Chamber of Commerce Partnership Through STARTup Visa Program

The Innovation Cluster Peterborough and the Kawarthas (ICPK) and the Peruvian-Canadian Chamber of Commerce (PCCC) have announced a new partnership aimed at supporting Peruvian entrepreneurs and introducing the Startup Visa Program.

photo courtesy of innovation cluster peterborough.

The STARTup Visa Program is a 15-month initiative backed by the Canadian federal government. It is designed to help entrepreneurs from other countries establish and grow their businesses in Canada, creating jobs and fostering economic prosperity. With three program intakes each year, in February, June and October, the STARTup Visa Program offers a comprehensive, tailored experience that includes a 3-month virtual accelerator, milestone review, letter of support for immigration and a 12-month incubation program in Peterborough.

"We're thrilled to partner with the PCCC to support Peruvian entrepreneurs in their journey to establish their businesses in Canada. This collaboration will help us provide invaluable resources and opportunities to Peruvian entrepreneurs,” said Camila Durate, senior innovation specialist & programs director at Innovation Cluster.

Participants in the program will benefit from startup acceleration services and individualized mentorship and coaching opportunities. The program focuses on three key areas: one-on-one mentorship, knowledge and skills training, and networking opportunities.

To further inform the PCCC members about the STARTup Visa Program, the Innovation Cluster and PCCC are hosting a joint webinar on May 25, from noon to 1 p.m. The webinar will provide insights into the program, explain the application process, and discuss the benefits of participating. Interested members are encouraged to join the webinar to learn more about this unique opportunity and get their questions answered by the experts.

"This partnership with the Innovation Cluster is a significant step towards strengthening the entrepreneurial ecosystem between Peru and Canada,” said Ana Maria Villaran, membership & sponsorship director at the Peruvian-Canadian Chamber of Commerce. “By working together, we can create a robust support network for our entrepreneurs and contribute to the growth and innovation of both countries."

For more information about the upcoming webinar, visit the link.

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Nominations Now Open for the Chamber of Commerce's Business Excellence Awards

Peterborough and the Kawarthas Chamber of Commerce has opened the call for nominations for the 2023 Business Excellence Awards. 

photo courtesy of the Peterborough and the Kawarthas Chamber of Commerce.

Nominating your favourite business is as easy as entering their name on our Express Nomination Form. The Chamber will then reach out to let them know and collect the details. Self-nominations are encouraged and are a great way to recognize your team. Express and self-nomination forms are available online.

The Business Excellence Awards were established to promote the advancement of responsible business leadership within the community. Awards will be handed out in over 20 categories including the prestigious Business Citizen of the Year Award. 

Businesses and individuals within the City and County of Peterborough are eligible, and do not need to be members of the Chamber of Commerce.

“In Peterborough and the Kawarthas, excellence is all around us,” says Sarah Budd, Chamber President & CEO.  “Every day, businesses and not-for-profits throughout the city and county are delivering exceptional service, providing incredible experiences, and finding innovative ways to grow. We encourage everyone to take a moment to recognize the businesses and organizations that make our community great.”

The Early Bird nomination deadline for nominations is May 10 at 4:30 p.m. and the Final deadline for nominations is May 24 at 4:30 p.m. The nominations received before May 10 at 4:30pm will be entered into the Early Bird Draw to win a $100 gift card for the Chamber member business of your choice.

Three Finalists in each category will be announced in August, with the award recipients announced live on the big stage – October 18th at Showplace Performance Centre.

There are categories for every business size and sector:

• 4-Under-40 Profiles in memory of Kathy Windrem

• Business Citizen of the Year

• Business Student Leadership Prizes

• Businesswoman of the Year – Entrepreneur

• Businesswoman of the Year – Organization

• Commercial Development or Renovation

• Customer First

• Employer of the Year

• Entrepreneurial Spirit

• Farm Family of the Year

• Green Initiatives

• Health & Wellness

• Hospitality

• Immigrant Entrepreneur of the Year

• Local Focus

• Marketing & Promotion

• Micro Business

• Not-for-profit

• Professional Services

• Retail

• Skilled Trades

• Stuart Harrison President’s Award

• Tourism

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Peterborough and the Kawarthas Chamber of Commerce Honours 19th Annual Business Excellence Awards Recipients

Peterborough and the Kawarthas Chamber of Commerce hosted the 19th annual Business Excellence Awards that showcased Peterborough’s local businesses that showcased excellence at the Showplace Performance Centre on Wednesday night.

Matt Strano (pictured) of Charlotte Products Ltd. won Business Citizen of the Year. Photo courtesy of Peterborough and the Kawarthas Chamber of Commerce.

The 2022 Business Excellence Awards recipients are as follows:

Local Focus

• Living Local Marketplace

Entrepreneurial Spirit

• Organized by Design

Health & Wellness

4-Under-40 Profiles, in memory of Kathy Windrem

• Dr. Nicole Edgar

• Michael Gallant

• Chad Hogan

• Caitlin Smith

Customer First

• Kawartha Country Wines

Tourism

• Lang Pioneer Village Museum

Business Student Leadership Prizes

• Jehan Mahboob (Trent University)

• Aiden Rice (Fleming College)

Marketing & Promotion

• Peterborough Humane Society (Our Pet Project)

The President's Award

• Ashley Lamothe (Creative Kwe)

Micro Business

• The Mane Intent

Skilled Trades

• New Beginnings Contracting Services

Businesswoman of the Year - Entrepreneur

• Brenda Ibey (The Avant-Garden Shop)

Businesswoman of the Year - Organization

• Alicia Dafoe (Village Dental Centre)

Green Initiatives

• The Nutty Bean Café

Professional Services

• Gauvreau Accounting Tax Law Advisory

Hospitality

• The Boardwalk Board Game Lounge

New Canadian Entrepreneur of the Year

• Faheem Mohammadzada (Brothers Pizza)

Commercial Development or Renovation

• Lakeshore Designs (Boathouse Boutique and Bikini Beans Cafe)

Retail

• Millbrook Mercantile

Peterborough County Farm Family of the Year

• The Cornish Family (Indian River Acres)

Not-for-Profit

• Community Care Peterborough

Employer of the Year

• Friendly Fires

Business Citizen of the Year

• Matt Strano (Charlotte Products Ltd.)

In total, more than 50 businesses and individuals were profiled in 23 categories, with recipients announced live on stage.

Watch the full 2022 Business Excellence Awards here.

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Peterborough and the Kawarthas Chamber President Stu Harrison Recognized With National Award

Retiring Peterborough and the Kawarthas Chamber president and CEO Stuart Harrison was inducted into the Council of Excellence of the Chamber of Commerce Executives of Canada (CCEC) on Wednesday.

Photo courtesy of Peterborough and the Kawarthas Chamber of Commerce.

The national award recognizes Chamber managers who have achieved outstanding results through their organization while demonstrating professionalism, integrity, intelligent risk-taking and strong ethics in their day-to-day work and adhering to human and financial resource management practices.

Harrison’s nomination notes that in his over 15 years of presidency, he has been synonymous with the business community in his role as president and CEO with the Peterborough and the Kawartha Chamber of Commerce. He is a trusted professional that operates with integrity and passion for both small businesses as well as large industry.

This is the highest possible honour the CCEC offers and is presented at the discretion of the Council of Excellence.

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Local Chambers And Rural Businesses Are Asking The Community For Support This Holiday Season

The Hometown Holiday campaign, organized by four local chambers of commerce is underway, and encouraging Peterborough County and the Kawarthas to support local businesses and shops located in the city and surrounding townships.

“I can appreciate that it’s a different experience in smaller communities - in the best way,” said Joel Wiebe, Peterborough Chamber. “When you go into the smaller communities around Peterborough County you experience that quaintness that we love about these communities.”

While Wiebe acknowledges how important local businesses are within the city of Peterborough, he points out how unique small businesses that are located outside the city can be.

“They’re not trying to be a big city, you can be so in touch with the people you’re buying from. It has a whole other level of community feel to it,” he said.

“Now more than ever it is very important that people support the small businesses in their community so the businesses can continue to be there for the community in the future,” said Bernadette MacNeil, owner Millbrook Mercantile.

The Millbrook Mercantile is a mix of both retail and culinary products. They source locally whenever possible, and provide everything from health and beauty to gourmet food.

“Because we don’t have any big box stores out here, I think its super important that the community try to get an mush shopping done locally and then if they need, leave whatever big purchases for your Costco runs - just get as much done here and limit your purchases at the bigger stores.”

“We rely on locals to keep us going, because cottagers come up all summer long and then ts just locals over the winter- we try to keep them happy the best we can and keep the shelves full,” said Lynn Northup, assistant manager at Havelock Home Hardware.

Located about 40 minutes from Peterborough and 15 minutes from Cambellford, small shops in Havelock may be the only option for some residents that are unable to drive.

“We’re surrounded by little towns, but this town has so much to offer so if you don’t drive this is the only place you can get most of your stuff so we try to stock as much as we can so people have that option.”

Located between Lakefield and Peterborough is Garden Style Bridgenorth, an almost 20 year old business that attributes their success to the support of their community.

“The key element of shopping local is that youre supporting someone that lives in your community,” said Michelle Gay, owner. “If people don’t shop in these little stores there just not going to be around anymore - because we need the people in our community to maintain our business.”

Garden Style carries a wide range of décor items, all focusing on being unique.

“Most of the people who shop here are people who live here or the immediate area - so those people rely on the smaller shops bc they don’t want to have to drive into the city. So, if you don’t have those small shops people would have to make that commute to get what they need. We rely on our community to support our business.”

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Peterborough is Getting it's Very Own Online Shopping Platform

An online shopping platform called ShopCloseBuy is coming to Peterborough and Kawartha Lakes to support small businesses.

Photo Courtesy of ShopCloseBuy.

The platform is designed to support a wide range of businesses, non-profit organizations, artists, farmers and entrepreneurs, by providing a locally-based online shopping platform to sell their products.

ShopCloseBuy will also allow businesses to host auctions online.

This platform was originally created in 2010 though was redeveloped in 2020 when COVID-19 took a toll on small businesses.

Founder, Donna Enright, launched ShopCloseBuy in Haliburton to encourage the "shop local" philosophy that is such an important component of sustainable communities.

“Our mission is to help communities thrive by connecting people with each other, encouraging mutual support and fostering economic sustainability,” says Enright.

Enright compares ShopCloseBuy to a local version of Amazon.

The Peterborough and Kawartha Lakes ShopCloseBuy site will launch as soon as a minimum of 10 vendors are onboard. Creators are estimating that will be in late August/early September.

Community information sessions will be held via zoom on July 22 and 23, 2021. To learn more, or to register to attend an info session click here.

To view the Haliburton ShopCloseBuy site click here.

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City Services During Step 2 of Ontario's Reopening Roadmap

The City of Peterborough has provided an update on Tuesday of municipal services and facilities for Step 2 Ontario’s Roadmap to Reopen beginning Wednesday.

Beavermead Park located on Ashburnham Rd. with trails, campsites, a beach and soccer fields. Photo Courtesy of City of Peterborough.

Arena Division

The Province has scheduled indoor sports and recreational fitness facilities to reopen during Step 3 of Ontario’s Roadmap to Reopening. In alignment with the provincial directive, arenas remain closed at this time. Please contact Arena Division Customer Service at arenadivisionbookings@peterborough.ca or ext. 2577 for further information.

Note: The Evinrude Centre (the facility will be renamed Healthy Planet Arena later this summer) will continue to be used for vaccination clinics. Please see peterboroughpublichealth.ca for information on how to book vaccinations for those who are eligible. 

The PTBOLive Summer Concert Series is happening at the PMC parking lot as previously announced. Events will proceed in compliance with all operational requirements as outlined in the Roadmap to Reopen. For a list of events and concert information, please visit www.memorialcentre.ca.

Art Gallery of Peterborough

The Province has scheduled art galleries to reopen during Step 3 of Ontario’s Roadmap to Reopen. In alignment with the provincial directive, the Art Gallery of Peterborough's facility remains closed at this time. Programs and services continue online.

Building, Planning and other services under Infrastructure and Planning Services

Building Services remains open for pick-up and drop-off service for Infrastructure and Planning Services from its location in the North Wing of City Hall on Monday, June 14. Residents are encouraged to access services online or by phone 705-742-7777 ext. 1892 whenever possible. Visit www.peterborough.ca/building for information, forms and the application process.

Child care centres

Licensed centre-based and home child care are permitted to operate under the provincial regulations.

City Hall

City Hall remains open for in-person service with public health precautions in place. Residents are asked to please call ahead to schedule an appointment for most services at City Hall. Regular business hours are 8:30 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and the phone number is 705-742-7777.

City Council

To respect the restrictions on indoor gatherings, City Council continues to meet virtually through electronic meetings at this time. Council meetings can be watched at www.peterborough.ca/watchcouncil. For a listing of scheduled Council meetings, please visit www.peterborough.ca/citycouncil.

City parks, pavilions and special events

City parks remain open for causal use with people required to stay two metres apart from others. Outdoor special events in City parks and pavilions will resume during Step 2. The outdoor social gathering limit has been increased to 25 people for a private event, where two metres physical distancing can be maintained. Organizers can apply for a permit to host organized events such as birthday parties, reunions, or other special events in City parks by submitting a COVID-19 Safety Plan for approval prior to the event.

Outdoor religious ceremonies including weddings and events hosted by staffed organizations are permitted during Step 2.

For further information please visit our website at www.peterborough.ca/parks, or contact the Recreation Division at 705-742-7777 ext. 1829.

Community Services

Community Services, Arts, Culture and Heritage, Public Art and the Heritage Preservation Office remains closed to in-person service, with staff available by calling 705-742-7777 ext. 1822 or by email at communityservices@peterborough.ca.

Curbside pickup parking

Curbside pickup parking spaces for free 15-minute parking are provided in the downtown area.

Downtown Youth Space

The Downtown Youth Space operating at PCVS remains closed until further notice.

Peterborough Museum and Archives

Starting, Saturday, July 3, the Museum Gift Shop is expanding its open hours to include weekends from noon to 4 p.m. and weekdays, 9 a.m. to 4 p.m., by appointment.

Appointments can be made online at www.peterboroughmuseumandarchives.ca or by phoning 705-743-5180.

The Museum will be open for children’s Summer Discovery Camps on July 12, 2021.

In accordance with Ontario’s Roadmap to Reopen, the Museum exhibition galleries will remain closed until the Province moves to Step 3.

Peterborough Public Library

Starting Tuesday, July 6, 2021, community members will be able to visit the library in person, browse the collection, use the public computers, pick up holds, and check out items.

Operating hours are:

• Sunday and Monday – closed

• Tuesday – 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.

• Wednesday – 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

• Thursday – 10:00 a.m. to 8:00 p.m.

• Friday – 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

• Saturday – 10:00 a.m. to 5:00 p.m.

Visitors will be required to enter and exit the library through the main entrance on Aylmer Street and will be asked to self screen before entering. Capacity will be limited to 50 people inside the facility at any time in accordance with the capacity limits in the Step 2 guidelines as set out by the Province.

The library asks that everyone who wishes to visit the library be courteous of others and keep their visit brief to allow as many people as possible the opportunity to do the same.

High-touch and shared touch areas, including children’s play areas and gathering places such as meeting rooms, will remain closed at this time.

The library will continue to offer virtual programs which can be found under the What’s Happening tab of the library website www.ptbolibrary.ca.

The DelaFosse branch remains closed at this time.

Further details are available online at www.ptbolibrary.ca.

Peterborough Sport and Wellness Centre

Indoor sport and recreation facilities are not permitted to open during Step 2 of the Province’s Roadmap to Reopen. The Sport and Wellness Centre remains closed at this time. Staff are working with Peterborough Public Health to create a plan to safely re-open the Centre when permitted under the provincial regulations. When further information is available, it will be shared through public communication, emails to members, the website, and social media updates.

Children day camp programs permitted under Step 2 guidelines are being offered at both the Sport and Wellness Centre and Peterborough Navy Club. These programs begin on Monday and registration is ongoing.

To speak to a staff member, please contact 705-742-0050 ext. 2201 and leave a voicemail – a staff member will return messages between 8:30 a.m. and 4:30 p.m., Monday through Friday. Alternatively, questions can be emailed to sportandwellnesscentre@peterborough.ca.

Peterborough Marina

The Marina is open for all seasonal and transient boating activities. Each boater is responsible for complying with provincial restrictions and the Marina COVID-19 Safety Guidelines. Boaters must ensure that members on the boat are only from the same household.  

Hours of operation are Monday through Thursday, 8 a.m. to 4:30 p.m. and Friday through Sunday, 8 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. (including holidays).

Please contact marina@peterborough.ca or 705-745-8787 for additional information.

Provincial Offences Court Services

The court administration service counter remains open for in-person service under modified hours of 9 a.m. to 11 a.m. and 2 p.m. to 4 p.m., Monday to Friday. Face coverings are mandatory, and only one person at a time is permitted at the service counter.

All inquiries and payments can also be made by phone 705-742-7777 ext. 2099 or online at www.peterborough.ca/POA.

Public Operations Centre (Public Works)

The Public Operations Centre (Public Works) administration office at 791 Webber Ave. remains closed to the public. Public Works can be reached for non-urgent matters, by email pubworks@peterborough.ca, or using the online Report an Issue form at www.peterborough.ca. For urgent matters, please call 705-745-1386. This line is monitored 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

Social Services

Public access to the Social Services office at 178 Charlotte St. will continue to be limited to 2 people at a time with public health screening done at the front entrance. Clients are required to wear a face covering and stay in authorized areas only. Social Services client appointments will take place over the phone whenever possible. Current clients are encouraged to contact their caseworkers for further information and are encouraged to register for online services through MyBenefits. The local phone number is 705-748-8830 or 1-855-738-3755.

Clients who have bank accounts are encouraged to contact their caseworkers about signing up for direct deposit.

All applications for Ontario Works or Emergency Assistance will be done online at or over the phone, when possible, to minimize face-to-face interaction to allow for physical distancing. Applications for other services such as Child Care fee subsidy may be completed over the phone.

Emergency shelter services will continue to operate as normal, with COVID-19 safety measures in place. Individuals can call 705-926-0096 for emergency shelter services on evenings and weekends.

Sport field permitting and outdoor fitness classes

Sport fields are open for casual use, as well as outdoor sport leagues are permitted to engage in non-contact sport in Step 2 of the Province’s Roadmap to Reopen. COVID-19 safety guidelines remain in place and all sport leagues will be required to submit an approved COVID-19 Safety Plan to the City prior to league play. Guidelines include capacity limits for spectators, active screenings and maintaining a physical distance of at least two metres for all coaches, trainers, volunteers and spectators.

Outdoor fitness classes are permitted with physical distancing of 3 metres in place, which includes City programs such as tennis, pickleball and outdoor fitness. For further information on these programs please visit our website at www.peterborough.ca and visit the Explore and Play section.

To book an outdoor sports facility or for further information, please contact the Recreation Division at 705-742-7777 ext. 1829 or visit online at www.peterborough.ca/parks

Transit

Peterborough Transit continues to operate as currently scheduled. Face covering is mandatory and physical distancing is required. Visit www.peterborough.ca/transit for service details.

Customer service at the terminal is open with only two customers permitted into the facility at a time. A face covering must be worn at all times.

To allow for a single direction of traffic flow onboard the bus, customers are asked to enter through the front door and exit by the back door. Mobility customers will continue to access the front door ramp. When finding a place on the bus, customers are asked to keep an eye out for areas with extra space and respect fellow riders’ personal areas when moving about the bus.

Waste Management

Garbage and recycling collection continues as normally scheduled. To protect waste management workers, please ensure that all personal items and personal protective equipment are properly bagged in the garbage.

The Peterborough City/County Landfill remains open, with COVID-19 safety precautions in place. Face coverings and physical distancing is required. Only electronic payment is accepted (no cash).

The Recycling Depot and Household Hazardous Waste Depot on Pido Road will remain open, with COVID-19 safety precautions in place. Face coverings and physical distancing is required. More information is online at www.peterborough.ca/waste.

Making payments to the City

Residents are encouraged to make use of the numerous methods available when doing financial interactions with the City and avoid using cash.

Property taxes can be paid like any other bill through online or telephone banking using the 15-digit roll number as the account number. Cheques can be mailed to the Tax Office, City Hall, 500 George St. N., Peterborough, ON., K9H 3R9, or placed in the secure drop box located by the steps at the front doors of City Hall. The City offers preauthorized payment plans by completing an online form that’s available at www.peterborough.ca

The City does not directly accept credit cards as a payment method for property taxes; however, people can use online bill payment services such as PaySimply, Plastiq or Paytm to pay property taxes online using a credit card. The listed payment services are not affiliates or partners of the City; they may apply service charges and there may be restrictions on the type of credit cards accepted.

For parking tickets, payments can be made online through www.peterborough.ca, over the phone at 705-742-7777 ext. 1865 or by cheque submitted through mail or using the drop box outside City Hall.

Please visit www.peterborough.ca/Covid19 for information and to subscribe to updates.

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List of City Services' Availability During Canada Day

Many City services will be closed or offering modified service this Thursday on Canada Day in a release issued Monday.

File Photo.

City Hall

City Hall offices, including Building Services, the Clerk’s Office and the Tax Office, will be closed. Online services are available at www.peterborough.ca.

Arenas Division

The Arenas division office will be closed.

The COVID-19 Vaccination Clinic will operate in the Evinrude Leon’s Pad for scheduled appointments only. Please visit www.peterboroughpublichealth.ca for more information on booking a vaccination.

Art Gallery of Peterborough

The Art Gallery of Peterborough's facility remains closed at this time, in compliance with the province's Roadmap to Reopening. Programs and services, including virtual camps for children, families and teens, continue online.

To stay up-to-date with what's happening online, and updates to hours of operation at the Art Gallery of Peterborough, please visit www.agp.on.ca, or visit their social media pages on Facebook, Instagram, and Twitter.

Garbage, recycling and green waste

Garbage, recycling and green waste will not be collected on Thursday, July 1. Collections for this date will move to Monday, July 5.

Residents who normally have Thursday collection must have their garbage, recycling and green waste set out to the curb by 7:00 a.m. on Monday, July 5. All other collections that week will remain unchanged.

The Household Hazardous Waste Depot and the Peterborough County and City Waste Management Facility (landfill) will be closed on July 1.

The Pido Road Recycling Depot remains open 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

For more details, please call the City of Peterborough Waste Management Division at 705-742-7777 ext. 1657.

Peterborough Museum and Archives

The Peterborough Museum and Archives and gift shop will be closed on July 1.

Summer Discovery Camp begins July 12. Information is online at www.peterborough.ca/museum.

Peterborough Public Library

Peterborough Public Library will be closed on Thursday, July 1.

Transit

Peterborough Transit will operate on a Sunday/Holiday service schedule on July 1. Please visit the website www.peterborough.ca/transit or call 705-745-0525 for detailed schedules.

Sport and Wellness Centre

The Peterborough Sport and Wellness Centre offices will be closed on July 1. The Centre remains closed in compliance with Province’s Reopening Roadmap.

Summer camp will operate July 5 through to September 3 at the Sport and Wellness Centre, 775 Brealey Dr. and the Navy Club, 24 Whitla St. Registration is available online at www.peterborough.ca/summercamps or by calling 705-742-0050.

Marina

The Peterborough Marina office will be open from 8:00 a.m. to 7:30 p.m. on Thursday, July 1. To contact the marina, please phone 705-745-8787 or email marina@peterborough.ca.

City Beaches

Lifeguards will be on duty at the two City-operated beaches at Beavermead Park and Rogers Cove on July 1 from 11:00 a.m. to 6:00 p.m. All visitors are required to follow public health guidelines. If the beach is crowded, consider visiting at another time.

Provincial Offences office

The Provincial Offences office at 99 Simcoe St. will be closed on July 1. Fine payments can be made online at www.peterborough.ca/POA.

Social Services office

The Social Services office at 178 Charlotte St. will be closed. Emergency shelter services remain open: call 705-926-0096 after hours, during weekends and on holidays.

Child care centres

City-operated child care centres will be closed on July 1.

Public Works

Public Works can be reached at 705-745-1386. This line is answered 24 hours a day, seven days a week.

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Real Estate Developer Has Groundbreaking Ceremony For New Mixed-Use Building

The Excelsior Centre had its groundbreaking ceremony at the start of its construction located on the corner of Parkhill Road and Chandler Crescent on Friday afternoon.

Councillor members, city officials and Thakkar commemorate the groundbreaking ceremony with gold shovels. Photo by David Tuan Bui.

The 13,000 square foot structure by Excelsior Group will have retail stores on the lower half, 15 apartments on the second floor fitted with an elevator and a drive-thru pad for a Tim Hortons. Over $10 million has been invested into the Center and is expected to complete construction in early 2022.

The company has hired local contractors and services for the building’s construction such as Drain Bros. Excavating Limited in Norwood.

Aside from a convenience store, it is unknown what stores will occupy the building. Century 21 United Realty Inc. was in attendance and jointly marketed the project with Coldwell Banker Richard Ellis Group.

“To see the investment happening in our great in our community it’s wonderful and it’s symbolic of today while the province is opening things up and investors are putting a lot of money into Peterborough,” said Dion Gemmiti, Century 21 real estate agent.

“I know this subdivision has been in development for a long time and I’m sure the residents are all excited about it as well. said Vanessa Oake Hogan, Century 21 owner. “I think it’s an opportunity for new businesses in the area.”

“I’m excited to see a small commercial development come to the subdivision,” said Alex McInroy, a nearby resident. “It would great to drop into the store for a donut with my daughter Phoebe.”

The Century 21 representatives at the groundbreaking ceremony. Photo by David Tuan Bui.

The ceremony was held by Satish Thakkar, founder and president of the Toronto-based real estate developing firm. In attendance was his crew, MPP Dave Smith, Councillor Lesley Parnell, Councillor Dan Vassiliadis and Stu Harrison among many others.

“Whatever we can support who are in need and particularly during this time, that community, we want to invest in,” said Thakkar. “We should be a part of it, we should help that community in whatever way we can.”

Thakkar shatters a coconut, claiming that the outer shell represents ego and needs to be broken to let it go. Photo by David Tuan Bui.

The groundbreaking event was the opportunity for Thakkar to donate $1,000 each to Brock Mission and Cameron House emergency shelter for women. The money for the former will finish the construction of the new building but unsure for the latter’s use according to Bill McNabb, Brock Mission executive director.

“It’s a win-win scenario,” he said. “When you’re not soliciting the money and somebody comes forward, it just feels very supportive and encouraging.”

Thakkar donating two $1,000 cheques for Brock Mission and Cameron House. Photo by David Tuan Bui.

Despite being based in Toronto, that was not Thakkar’s only charitable contribution to Peterborough. In March, Thakkar helped deliver over 200 meals to One Roof Diner on his son’s 20th birthday.

Notable city members unanimously agreed that the building would be a significant contribution to Peterborough’s economic growth and development since the area has little to no commercial space in that community.

“When you have people congregating in one area, you need to have commercial spaces as well,” said Smith. “It fits a lot of what the needs are for the community.”

“It’s a plus and there’s a commercial component to this which there is none now,” said Parnell. “There are some services that there will be a complete benefit for this neighbourhood.”

The site of the where the Excelsior Centre will be built on the corner of Parkhill Road and Chandler Crescent. Photo by David Tuan Bui.

Construction was delayed by two years since the city upgraded the roads around that area including the newly built roundabout on the intersection of Parkhill Road and Brealey Drive.

“It was an incredible concession on his part,” said Parnell. “We’ve very happy to see shovels in the ground today.”

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