David Tuan Bui's Top Five Stories of 2023

/

And with that, 2023 is about to be history as another year passes with me as a part of PTBOCanada. Peterborough has a population of just under 84,000 people. Tack on everyone in the Kawarthas and we’re still not bigger than some neighbouring cities like Oshawa, Whitby and beyond.

However, the amount of news, unbelievable stories and iconic people never seems to stop and I have had the pleasure to witness and report on a vast amount of it. I’ve been in this town for over 30 years of my life and I never stop learning more about my city.

Bui interviewing Rob Wilson, Petes head coach and Shawn Spearing, Petes captain shortly after the team’s OHL Championship. Photo by Samantha Bianco.

These are my top five stories — in no particular order — that I truly enjoyed covering in 2022.

The Petes went 10-1 at home during the playoffs en route to their OHL Championship. PHOTO by Samantha Bianco.

It’s no secret that I’m a hockey fan and only one of two Los Angeles Kings fans (that I know of) in Peterborough.

But to see my hometown Peterborough Petes win the OHL Championship was an unforgettable experience. I have been covering them since I started working for PTBOCanada in March 2021. Countless hours were spent watching games, highlights, conducting interviews and beyond.

I put in a lot of extra time and work during their playoff run, culminating in witnessing history before my eyes and playing a tiny role. I got to be on the ice to do post-game interviews and get immersed in the celebrations. I am certain I did not get home until 1 a.m. that night but it was well worth it.

I could have put a lot of Petes’ stories on this list but I’m going to keep it to one.

Elizabeth, Aurora and Matthew Gardner on the putting green of Bellmere Winds Golf Resort with the memorial poster of William in his memorial tournament. All photos by David Tuan Bui.

I have always been looking for reasons to go golfing ever since I picked it up as a Covid hobby but this was a touching story. So much so that I had to be a part of it as a journalist and a golfer.

The Gardner family had lost their five-year-old son William in a golf cart accident last year and started a memorial tournament in his honour.

The day was filled with fun but a lot of emotion but 155 golfers were out to show their support. I’ve been to several charity golf tournaments in my short golf life but that was a high number for an inaugural event compared to others that I’ve played in.

Erica Evans (left), Lou Warner (middle) and Payton Crough (right) celebrating the first-ever LAXNAI Women's tournament. photo by David Tuan Bui.

Sure enough, the above photo also made my top 10 photos story posted earlier this week.

I was selected to be a play-by-play commentator for the North American Invitational (LAXNAI) for a third straight year in Utica, N.Y. from late September to early October. Last year, women’s lacrosse was showcased but this year had the inaugural women’s tournament.

Peterborough’s Erica Evans, Lou Warner and Payton Crough were playing for BP Lawyers and became tournament champions. Evans was also named MVP.

Technically, I was off-duty from PTBOCanada at this point in time but with Peterborough women’s lacrosse making a statement in an international tournament, I could not help but indulge in turning it into a story.

Susan Tung, Hanoi House and NAKA Japanese owner (left) and Morgan Bell, general manager (right) showing HCSS students how to make Vietnamese spring rolls. Photo by Samantha Bianco

During May, students of Peterborough Victoria Northumberland and Clarington Catholic District School Board learned about Asian heritage. Naka Japanese and Hanoi House owner Susan Tung was invited to perform a food demo for students as part of the school’s Cook Eat Love culinary program.

They made fresh Vietnamese spring rolls which were a common and popular meal of my heritage. It consisted of Vietnamese sausage, vermicelli, lettuce, cucumbers rolled in rice paper. It was dipped in either a fish sauce or peanut sauce.

Of course, I had to jump in there and help the students learn how to prepare them after reporting on the event. I recall even having this meal with my family on the weekend prior to the demo so I was fresh off making them. That was a lucky coincidence.

Jenn and Braden Glasbergen entertaining a first-time Halloweener during the ghost pirate ship's last year. photo by David Tuan Bui.

The Glasbergen family did amazing things with their magnificent displays of Halloween, Easter, Christmas and a dinosaur park with ‘Seasons on Ravenwood.’

However, this was the final year they were doing it, including their large ghost pirate ship, amid several complaints regarding safety. The family also collected non-perishable goods and money to donate to St. Vincent de Paul.

It was an absolute spectacle to see year in and year out that also got national recognition. I am not sure if the holidays will be the same in Peterborough without them. I am glad I got to be a part of it in spreading the community cheer.

I’d also like to recognize PTBOCanada’s newest employee and colleague this year, our graphic designer Mark Dizon. If you have ever seen his work, it is marvellous. We met him at Fleming College as an international student from the Philippines.

He was the winner of a graphic design contest for the Alzheimer Society of Peterborough’s anti-stigma campaign called the ‘Missing Piece.’

We were impresses with his work so much that we hired him shortly after his graduation!

GDV FLEMING STUDENTS ADAM KEIZER (LEFT) MARK DIZON (MIDDLE) AND JAMES LEVESQUE (RIGHT) GAVE PRESENTATIONS TO THE MEDIA AND AFFILIATED ORGANIZATIONS OF THEIR CAMPAIGNS. DIZON IS AN INTERNATIONAL STUDENT FROM THE PHILLIPINES AND CAME TO PETERBOROUGH FOR SCHOOL TWO YEARS AGO. PHOTO BY SAMANTHA BIANCO.

Peterborough and the Kawarthas never seem to stop with wonderful and fascinating stories.

I’ve enjoyed covering our City and County and will continue to do so with pride. I’m eager to see what 2024 has in store especially since I was able to welcome my first child in June, Serenity!

Here’s to a great new year, PTBO! 2024 should be a wonderful time!

Engage with us on social media on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and Tiktok. Write to us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Sign up for PTBOBuzz newsletter here.

Hometown PTBO: 2023 Year-End Review

/

This week on Hometown PTBO, Pete Dalliday looks back on all our fantastic guests over 2023.

Engage with us on social media on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Tiktok, Youtube and LinkedIn. Write to us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Sign up for our newsletter here.

David Tuan Bui's Top 10 Photos of 2023

/

As I mentioned in last year’s edition, I do not espouse the thought of calling myself one of the best local photographers in Peterborough.

But with each year comes experience, growth and maturity in every skill I honed in my young and short journalism career. We are only taught so much in journalism school and another great way to learn is to go into the world and try.

Again, like last year, my skills and Rome were not built in a day, much like the thoughts and reasoning behind great Roman philosophers I studied at Trent University, such as St. Augustine of Hippo and Cicero (okay, I’m getting a little carried away).

Nonetheless, my quest for knowledge and tenacity to learn has not stopped and rightfully so if I want to continue my journalism career.

However, it is flattering to know that some pictures I took have been used commercially for local organizations such as the Rotary Club of Peterborough, Peterborough Business Social Club and Hospice Peterborough. They are definitely signs of improvement for sure.

Nonetheless, these are my top ten photos that I have taken for PTBOCanada in chronological order:

RENEE OAKE (LEFT) WITH HER SON OSCAR WEINSTEIN (RIGHT) AFTER SWIMMING 150 LAPS IN THE LANE POOL. PHOTO BY DAVID TUAN BUI.

The 37th annual Carl Oake Rotary Swim held by the Rotary Club was back at the YMCA of Central East Ontario, raising money for Easter Seals and various Rotary projects.

This event has fundraised over $1.32 million since February and saw 19 teams try to raise over $50,000 for this year’s event.

A similar picture made my top five list last year with Renee Oake and her father Carl Oake. This year, it was her and her son Oscar Weinstein. You could see the jubilance of the two after Renee’s swim.

BURTON LEE, PETES EXECUTIVE DIRECTOR OF BUSINESS OPERATIONS (LEFT) ADDRESSING THE 165+ STUDENTS IN GRADES 7 AND 8 ABOUT HIS CAREER EXPERIENCE WITH THE TEAM. PHOTO BY DAVID TUAN BUI.

Immediately looking at this picture, you could tell Burton Lee, former Peterborough Petes executive director of business operations, had the charisma to capture the attention of the young students.

Junior Achievement of Northern and Eastern Ontario and their World Choices program had students listen and learn intimately about the day-to-day lives of various careers.

We were also invited as guest speakers for this event too.

BUMSTEAD (LEFT) CAUGHT WALTER AFTER HIS THIRD CAST NOT A HALF-AN-HOUR INTO THE DERBY. HIS STEPFATHER JUSTIN DESBARBIEUX (RIGHT) DID IT LAST YEAR, FIVE DAYS INTO THE EVENT. PHOTO BY DAVID TUAN BUI.

We got a good look at ‘Walter’ from this shot as Ben Bumstead caught him just 30 minutes into the derby. He’s also the stepson of Justin Desbarbieux who caught it last year.

Walter is the top prize at the Ontario Federation of Anglers and Hunters Under the Lock Fishing Derby held every year at the Peterborough Lift Locks.

PHOEBE M., 3, HAS BEEN A REGULAR VISITOR TO THE CENTRE FOR THE PAST YEAR. PHOTO BY DAVID TUAN BUI.

Peterborough Child & Family Centre marked their 40th anniversary with a new Playscape for their facility and Phoebe (pictured) was enjoying every second of it.

You can tell she’s enjoying the new playground, and all the parents in the background are enjoying watching their children play.

The PlayScape features a repurposed downhill slide, a circular track for walking and biking, a play kitchen, a canopy and other playground equipment. It replaced a tall climber that had occupied the outdoor space for several years.

Kelli Marshall of Hiawatha First Nation (pictured) dances in a fancy shawl at a pow wow at St. John Catholic Elementary School. Photo by David Tuan Bui.

St. John Catholic Elementary School had a pow-wow to celebrate Indigenous culture in mid-May.

Many students and faculty had Indigenous roots and saw Members of Hiawatha First Nations, Haudenosaunee and Chippewas of Nawash Unceded First Nation come together for the sacred event.

Kelli Marshall put her beautiful shawl on display and you could see all the colours and its design with this shot.

CELEBRITY GOLF ENTERTAINER AND INSTRUCTOR TODD KEIRSTEAD GETTING THE TRUST OF JENNIFER ARMSTRONG AS HE ROCKETS A TEE SHOT OFF HER AS ONE OF HIS MANY TRICK SHOTS. KEIRSTEAD WAS A GUEST ENTERTAINER AT THE 15TH HOLE AT THE QUARRY GOLF CLUB. PHOTO BY DAVID TUAN BUI.

The third-annual "Be a Saint" St. Joseph's at Fleming golf tournament raised money to upgrade the facility’s infrastructure.

It turns out that celebrity golf entertainer and instructor Todd Keirstead was at the event performing trick shots and I got a solid shot of what he could do.

@ptbo_canada Editor David helps @PGATOUR golf entertainer Todd Keirstead with a trick shot at the Quarry Golf Club for the third-annual “Be a Stant” St. Joseph’s at Fleming’s golf fundraiser tournament! #ptbo #ptbocanada #fyp #journalism #journalismlife #journalist #journalistlife #peterborough #news #followers➕ #follow #following #golf #golftiktok #golftok #golfer #golflife #sports #sportstiktok #trickshot #trickshots ♬ Golf - Clean Cutt Crew

Apparently, I may have been off my rocker that day, and I wanted to be a part of it myself.

Rhaelynn Gaspari, 5 (left), celebrating her friend Charlotte Miller’s birthday, 5 (right), during the grand opening. All photos by David Tuan Bui.

It may have been the grand opening for Rollz Ice Cream but these two cute little girls stole my camera’s attention.

It was a way to kick off Charlotte Miller’s fifth birthday with her friend and being surrounded by balloons is a great way to tell the world that it’s your day!

The parlour serves rolled ice cream, milkshakes, waffles, falooda, cheesecake (from the Cheesecake Factory), popping soda and ice cream burgers.

Big Wreck consists of Ian Thornley (pictured), Dave MacMillan, Chris Caddell and Sekou Lumumba. photo by David Tuan Bui.

I always look forward to at least one show every year at Peterborough Musicfest. This year, it was Big Wreck.

I got close to Ian Thornley and got a good shot. You could see everything on him down to every detail.

Of course, I got to enjoy the concert after I was done taking my photos for the night.

An unexpected champagne cork pop leads to a bubbly surprise for Dani Guppy (left) and Pete Dalliday (right). photo by David Tuan Bui.

Pete Dalliday and Dani Guppy of 'Fresh Mornings With Pete & Dani,’ recorded their 1,005th episode with 100.5 FM Fresh Radio, a huge milestone for these two.

The celebrations had an unexpected pop of a champagne bottle as Dalliday was unravelling it and I got a shot of their reaction, especially Guppy’s. Her face says it all.

Erica Evans (left), Lou Warner (middle) and Payton Crough (right) celebrating the first-ever LAXNAI Women's tournament. All photos by David Tuan Bui.

I was selected to be a play-by-play commentator for the North American Invitational (LAXNAI) for a third-straight year in Utica, N.Y. and it was the inaugural women’s tournament.

Peterborough’s Erica Evans, Lou Warner and Payton Crough were playing for BP Lawyers and became tournament champions. Evans was also named MVP, so getting my shots and interviews was an opportunity I could not pass up.

Look at the size of that trophy. It was not small by any means. The expressions of the women, coupled with that championship, showed the prowess of lacrosse in Peterborough and the genuine hard work of winning an event.

Engage with us on social media on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook, Tiktok, Youtube and LinkedIn. Write to us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Sign up for our newsletter here.

Hometown PTBO: Pete Dalliday Recapping the Peterborough Community Members of 2022

/

This week on Hometown PTBO, we recap some of the wonderful people that Pete Dalliday has talked to over 2022. Community members, athletes, artists and more are showcased as we wrap up the 2022 edition of Hometown PTBO.

Engage with us on social media on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and Tiktok. Write to us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Sign up for PTBOBuzz newsletter here.

David Tuan Bui's Top Five Stories of 2022

/

Another year has come and gone at PTBOCanada and there have been some fantastic stories I was able to cover in 2022. The impact this community can make is nothing short of remarkable and I feel honoured and privileged to cover some of Peterborough and the Kawartha’s stories.

Bui was hired as the PTBOCanada Editor for Mar. 1, last year. Photo by Autumn Nadeau.

These are my top five stories — in chronological order — that I truly enjoyed covering in 2022.

PERKS HAS MADE APPEARANCES ON OTHER AMERICAN SHOWS SUCH AS ABC’S GOOD MORNING AMERICA AND FOX LOS ANGELES. PHOTO COURTESY OF MICHAEL ROZMAN/WARNER BROS.

Eight-year-old Callan Perks (better known as Coach Cal) took his viral motivational speeches to the City of Angels as he made an appearance on the Ellen DeGeneres Show in early January.

He gave his own pep talk to DeGeneres on her final season which brought her to tears.

I had the honour of interviewing Coach Cal after his original video went viral and I will always be proud of what he has done with himself since. What a kid!

ASTROM HAS PLAYED HIGH SCHOOL FOOTBALL WITH NHL’S VEGAS GOLDEN KNIGHTS INSIDER AND PETERBOROUGH NATIVE GARY LAWLESS. PHOTO COURTESY OF ANDREW ASTROM.

I mentioned when Pete Dalliday first interviewed me live when I had got the job for PTBOCanada that I had a Grade 7 science teacher who nicknamed me “Ziggy Stardust.” It was in reference to my name’s pronunciation being similar to famed rock star David Bowie.

The man who gave me that nickname? Former teacher Andrew Astrom who taught me at Immaculate Conception School and later became my offensive coordinator for the Holy Cross Catholic School football team in their second year. He retired after 30 years of teaching and was diagnosed with medullary thyroid cancer.

Astrom discovered his cancer on May 4 last year and had surgery on Aug. 5 where his thyroid and several lymph nodes were removed. He has lost most of his voice, has side neck pain and suffers nerve pain when he eats.

He is a realtor now just like his wife Tammie Astrom. He was always a great teacher and coach to me and he’s quite skilled at playing the guitar.

‘Water Bacon’ is a tongue-in-cheek reference to the City of Peterborough’s logo of water waves that resembles blue bacon. Photo by Luke BEst.

Okay, I admit it, this was the first ‘fake news’ story that I had published professionally…

For April Fools Day, I came up with a story that ‘Kevin the Water Bacon’ had become the new mascot of Peterborough. ‘Water bacon’ is a tongue-in-cheek reference to the City’s logo of blue and white horizontal wavy stripes that launched in the spring of 2018.

We saw Kevin had both an Instagram and Tiktok account so we reached out and collaborated on this funny hoax. The hoax was well-received as even the City and Fresh Radio played along with the fun. It’s nice to see that Peterborough also has a humourous side to them.

So… Why ISN’T Kevin the official mascot for The City of Peterborough?

ECFC PLAYERS LUKE GREEN (MIDDLE) AND CONNOR WILSON (RIGHT) CELEBRATING THE TEAM’S FIRST FRANCHISE WIN WITH FANS, SCORING THREE GOALS IN 14 MINUTES. PHOTO BY DAVID TUAN BUI.

If you were at the Electric City Football Club’s (ECFC) men’s home opener, you would understand the amount of hype this night delivered for Peterborough.

It was the team’s inaugural year and the game did not disappoint as ECFC got the franchise’s first win against 3-0 against Windsor TFC on May 7.

The team scored three goals in 14 minutes and clamped down defensively since then. They also broke the League1 Ontario men’s game attendance record with 1,565 fans (the women’s team also did that for their respective league).

Watching this game live and reporting it had me entrenched in the soccer atmosphere and seeing the team hit several high points made it a pleasure to witness.

TUNG AND HER NEWBORN DAUGHTER HUNTER OUTSIDE THE HUNTER STREET LOCATION THAT SOFT OPENED ON VALENTINE’S DAY IN 2020. TUNG’S FAMILY FORMERLY OWNED THE GOLDEN WHEEL CHINESE RESTAURANT LOCATED NEAR SPRINGVILLE. PHOTO COURTESY OF SUSAN TUNG.

This one hits home to me as I am of Vietnamese descent.

Susan Tung, owner of Vietnamese restaurant Hanoi House — and a friend of mine — decided to close down her Hunter Street location and consolidated her business into the Lansdowne Street spot.

I’ve eaten at her establishment at least 50 times since she opened on Valentine’s Day in 2020. I helped proofread her initial menu before opening day and was cordially invited to try her pho (Vietnamese beef noodle soup) and critique it after the grand opening.

Thankfully her business is running and doing quite well and it wasn’t the end of great Vietnamese food outside of my mother’s kitchen. It just means I’ll have to take a longer drive than usual if I wanted to grab a bowl of pho on my lunch break.

2022 is almost over and there was no shortage of great stories to cover in Peterborough and the Kawarthas.

Old and new faces were seen covering this year’s news and I eagerly await seeing what 2023 has in store for me.

I have to bid farewell to former employees Angela O’Grady and Luke Best who have moved on to other endeavors but that leaves the door of opportunity for new people to join the PTBOCanada family.

I am blessed to be working with Felicia Massey, Samantha Bianco and Brad Wood who are all hired within the same few weeks in early September and eagerly await to see what is in store next year with them!

On a personal note, I will have to push back my wedding to 2024 as my fiancée Autumn and I will be expecting our first child in late June. Big news for the Bui household and I’m sure 2023 is going to be another spectacular year for Peterborough!

Engage with us on social media on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and Tiktok. Write to us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Sign up for PTBOBuzz newsletter here.

David Tuan Bui's Top Five Photos of 2022

/

Photography skills are an ever-growing skill among journalists.

I won’t claim I’m the best at it as journalism school only trains you so much in taking photos compared to professional photographers. However, like any job or career, you hone your skills as you progress. So long as you improve, that’s the important part. It’s as they say, ‘Rome wasn’t built in a day’ and nor will my photography skills (but they’re getting better).

Electric City Football Club’s Jordan Brown (left) with David Tuan Bui (right) during the team’s first training camp of their inaugrual season. Photo by Luke Best.

These are my top five photos that I have taken for PTBOCanada in chronological order.

FORMER EASTER SEALS AMBASSADOR MITCHELL MCCOLL (left) AND RENEE OAKE (right) AT the YMCA. PHOTO BY DAVID TUAN BUI.

The 36th annual Carl Oake Rotary Swim raised more than $50,000 for Easter Seals and Rotary programs in the community back on Feb. 25. The event has raised over $1.3 million to date.

Former Easter Seals Ambassador Mitchell McColl had a bit of Spiderman in him as he shares a moment with Renee Oake — daughter of Carl Oake — shortly after she finished her leg of the YMCA swimming lanes.

McColl was an ambassador in 2012 and has attended every Carl Oake Rotary Swim since.

Alice Cooper (left) with Nita Strauss (right) as Cooper’s band returned to the Peterborogh Memorial Centre in 18 years. Photo by David Tuan Bui.

The ‘Godfather of Shock Rock’ came back to Peterborough since Oct. 3, 2004, rocking the Peterborough Memorial Centre as part of his 2022 ‘Monsters of Rock Cruise.’

Special guests Buckcherry with Ace Frehley opened the show but the crowd was there for Alice Cooper as he brought touring guitarist Nita Strauss with him to play old favourites such as School’s Out, No More Mr. Nice Guy, Billion Dollar Babies, Poison, Hey Stoopid and more.

This photo seemed fitting for the occasion as Alice Cooper was back in the Peterborough spotlight and could still rock at 74 years of age.

St. Peter’s Secondary School student Josh Watson, 14, warms up with a putt prior to the tournament. Photo by David Tuan Bui.

The Peterborough Golf & Country Club celebrated its 125th anniversary with a step-aside scramble tournament that encouraged its golfers to dress in era-appropriate clothing for the time the course had opened.

Baggy pants, ties, long skirts and classy hats were part of the attire that was worn at the event but one person stood out among the rest for me. That was 14-year-old Josh Watson of St. Peter’s Secondary School who sported an ensemble consisting of hiked-up socks over his pants, an Ivy cap and a dapper bowtie to finish off his outfit.

There were not many young golfers at the event but I believe Watson captured the essence perfectly of what a young man would look like golfing in 1897.

THREE-YEAR-OLD MOANA LEWIN ENJOYS TURNER PARK’S NEW SPLASH PAD, TOTALLING SIX WATER PADS IN PETERBOROUGH. THE PAD REPLACES THE FORMER WADING POOL THAT WAS OVER 50 YEARS OLD. PHOTO BY DAVID TUAN BUI.

Peterborough opened up its sixth splash pad in Turner Park, located on the corner of Chamberlain Street and High Street on June 23.

It replaced the wading pool that occupied the park for over 50 years and three-year-old Moana Lewin took full advantage of the splash pad on opening day.

It can be tough getting shots of young children at a splash pad considering they’re always moving around and not necessarily attentive to the camera. Luckily, I got Lewin playing underneath the water pole that shoots water like an umbrella and perhaps captured her amazement. I thought the shimmering water was cool.

ARTIST JULII MCMILLAN NEXT TO HER CREATION, “MONARCH MONOLITH” OUTSIDE PETERBOROUGH SQUARE’S COURTYARD. IT TOOK HER AND ASSISTANT SAMANTHA CHIUSOLO THREE AND A HALF DAYS TO COMPLETE. PHOTO BY DAVID TUAN BUI.

The Downtown Business Improvement Area unveiled two new large-scale murals to enhance the streetscape experience through public art on Nov. 8.

One was located on the corner of King Street and George Street but the one in the picture was at the Peterborough Square Courtyard. It was created by local artist Julii McMillan and assistant Samanta Chiusolo called ‘Monarch Monolith.’

I credit McMillan and Chiusolo’s work for this photo having a bright spot more than my photography skills as the art piece’s colours blend into the sky so well that let the other colours of the monolith pop.

Engage with us on social media on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and Tiktok. Write to us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Sign up for PTBOBuzz newsletter here.

A Year In Review By Felicia Massey

/

I have the privilege of writing stories each day that showcase the passions, efforts and accomplishments of some very inspiring people in the community.

As the year wraps up and I celebrate three months with PTBOCanada, I want to share my top five favourite stories — in chronological order — that I have enjoyed writing in 2022.

 

Photo by Felicia Massey.

The sixth annual Pulling for Dementia Fire Truck Pull was the first story I had the opportunity of covering “in the field.”

The World Alzheimer’s Day event raised money for programs and services through the Alzheimer Society of Peterborough, Kawartha Lakes, Northumberland and Haliburton by challenging teams to pull a 44,000-pound firetruck the fastest as supporters cheered them on at the Peterborough Airport.

At the time of my story the online fundraiser had raised just under $8,000. Today, the fundraiser sits at $9,225 for the Alzheimer Society.

 

Photo by Felicia Massey.

When beloved kindergarten teacher Mrs. Lytle was diagnosed with breast cancer, the Keith Wightman school community rallied in support of her during their annual Terry Fox walk. Staff and students honoured Mrs. Lytle with cheers, high-fives and hand-written notes as she visited with her class.

I am grateful to have felt the tremendous impact that Mrs. Lytle continues to have on her school community.

 

Photo courtesy of The Main Ingredient.

After 43 years, Ken and Deb Fraser decided to retire as owners of The Main Ingredient. The Fraser’s opened the environmentally-conscious bulk health food store in 1979, promoting the use of reusable containers to reduce excess waste.

Former store manager Mike Hall was asked to take over the business in 2021, along with his wife Whitney. The Hall’s spoke optimistically about the future of The Main Ingredient, recognizing that this business endeavour was a lot different than their music promoting.

Seeing a cherished small business continue to flourish with new ownership and perspective was really special.

 

I had the privilege of interviewing psychic medium Theresa Caputo from the TLC series Long Island Medium!

Prior to her Peterborough Memorial Centre appearance, we talked about her podcast Hey Spirit and her 10th anniversary of touring, where she guides audience members through grief and healing at her live shows.

I was then able to meet Theresa and experience the live show with my Mom, which was very surreal.

 

Photo courtesy of Patti Kimball.

Author Patti Kimball spoke with me about her grief memoir ‘Siren on Repeat: What My Best Friend’s Death Taught Me About Hope and Grief.’

After losing one of her best friends at just 14 years old, Patti processed her grief through writing. She outlined to me the importance of preserving Aprile’s memory, as well as teaching readers that everyone’s “grief journey” looks different, and happens on their own terms.

Patti shared a number of stories about her times with Aprile and I feel honoured to have gotten a glimpse into their friendship.

 

Here are a few of my favourite pictures I took of The Neighbourhood Vintage! The vintage clothing store owned by Jacquelyn Craft carries a number of vendors, including her own brand Minty Vintage.

Photo by Felicia Massey.

 

On a personal note…

Since graduating from Trent University and Loyalist College in June, my journalistic endeavours have been nothing short of incredible. My job is a dream and I couldn’t ask for a better City to practice journalism.

I look forward to seeing you around in 2023!

Engage with us on social media on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and Tiktok. Write to us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Sign up for PTBOBuzz newsletter here.

A Year In Review By David Tuan Bui

/

I started in the new era of PTBOCanada on Mar. 1 when owner Kirtus Evoy purchased it from Neil Morton. Since joining the team, I have got to experience what Peterborough has to offer. The stories, the community and the surprises that can come from a small town are things I will never forget for the rest of my life.

Bui (pictured) previously worked as a freelance sports journalist for Indigenous newspaper The Eastern Door prior to joining the PTBOCanada team. Photo by Angela O’Grady.

These are my top five stories — in chronological order — that I truly enjoyed being a part of in 2021.

Jorge Arroyo has expressed some interest in streaming video games like Fortnite or Spanish lessons on Youtube in the near future. Photo courtesy of Sarai Arroyo.

Yes, Jorge Arroyo cracked my list just as he made my colleague Angela O’Grady’s. If you ever talked to this young man — as I got to in June —, you will understand what an inspiring soul he is with a great attitude.

Arroyo was only six years old before immigrating to Canada from Mexico. He recorded a 12-minute podcast with The New Canadians Centre with his story of coming to this country. After hearing the podcast, I was moved and had to feature him.

He encourages others to open up their struggles rather than bottling them up to help overcome them. After adjusting to Canadian life for over five years of living here, Arroyo reminded me that no one is alone with their problems and creating awareness is one step towards solving them.

David Tuan Bui with Wadsworth Kulatungam in photos separated by 13 years (2008 and 2021). Bui first met Kulatungam as a Grade 6 student at Immaculate Conception School while the latter was a substitute teacher. Photos by David Tuan Bui.

I was invested deeply in this story emotionally. If you were in the Peterborough Catholic school system for the past 25 years, chances are that you know renowned substitute teacher Wadsworth Kulatungam, better known as Mr. Wadsworth.

Kulatungam retired in December last year rather quietly but I had a different agenda. When I heard that St. Peter’s Secondary School teacher Colleen Crawley was gathering testimonials for Kulatungam’s retirement, I immediately jumped at the chance and wanted to turn it into a story.

From my personal experience, no one ever had a negative thing to say about him and I believed was the consummate professional. I am honoured to have had him as my supply teacher on multiple occasions through the years.

Talking to Kulatungam 13 years later in July since I last saw him gave me a flashback of wonderful memories and seeing the community collaborate on highlighting his teaching impact was a heart-touching moment. Congratulations again Wadsworth on your retirement!

“Everyone has capabilities and goodness in them. That was my philosophy. Criticism doesn’t carry you anywhere.”
— Wadsworth Kulatungam

Jenn (left) and Braden Glasbergen (right) have had four different elaborate front-yard decorative displays such as Easter, dinosaurs, a ghost pirate ship and a gingerbread house. Photo by David Tuan Bui.

It is hard to miss the setups Jenn and Braden Glasbergen of Ravenwood Drive in Peterborough have on their front lawn.

During the fall season, the couple has this awesome pirate ship on their front lawn open to the public to watch, explore and take pictures.

They have had other setups that they change quarterly such as an Easter setup, dinosaurs and a Christmas one to fit all four seasons.

If doing this was not enough to give back to the community, the Glasbergens collected non-perishable goods for St. Vincent de Paul for every display they put up.

The Stanley Cup had never gone down the Lift Lock prior to Mitchell Stephens’s boat parade. Photo by Pete Dalliday.

Yes, this story made both my list and PTBOCanada’s top 10 list but we are talking about the Stanley Cup being in Peterborough.

As a sports fan, I am excited to hear when a hometown person wins a major sports championship so I can only imagine what two-time Stanley Cup champion Mitchell Stephens felt when he brought it back to Peterborough on Aug. 25.

PTBOCanada was able to get a water parade arranged for Stephens as he took the Stanley Cup down the Lift Lock with friends in family. I was privileged to be on the same boat as him recording the parade and editing the video the same night.

This will be one of the most opportunistic experiences that I have ever had and am fortunate to be a part of it.

Callan Perks signed a one-day contract as the Peterborough Petes Next Gen head coach on Nov 28. Photo by Jenish Odigski.

There was no way Coach Cal was put off this list.

Callum Perks became an overnight sensation with a pre-game locker room speech for the Peterborough Petes for their Next Gen game on Nov. 28. The game allowed kids to play in executive roles for the hockey club for the day and Perks took absolute advantage of it.

When you talked to the young man, I was astonished by how developed his speaking and linguistic skills were for the seven-year-old. I have interviewed numerous amounts of children but none with better diction than Perks. I normally get one or two-word answers from kids but it was not the case with Coach Cal.

To see how well-developed since speaking with him now, I can only imagine what kind of potential he has when he grows up. The future for Coach Cal looks bright.

The Petes beat the Ottawa 67’s 3-2 if you are wondering how that game went before that speech. I would say the pre-game motivation worked.

This year has given me experiences I never thought I would ever get to do. I spoke with Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, rode in a boat with the Stanley Cup, be backstage for several live events and more.

Thank you Peterborough and the Kawarthas for granting me the opportunity and honour to be a part of your daily lives. Thank you to the PTBOCanada team to take me as one of them.

Cheers 2021 and Peterborough for giving me such a fantastic year! I hope 2022 will extend me the same courtesy.

Engage with us on social media on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and Tiktok. Write to us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Sign up for PTBOBuzz newsletter here.

A Year In Review By Angela O'Grady

/

In my six months with PTBOCanada, I have had the opportunity to speak with so many amazing members of the community. Each day I am given the chance to learn about someone’s passion, listen to their story or celebrate their success.

Here are my top five stories — in chronological order — that I had the pleasure of writing in 2021.

Jorge Escalera (far right), poses with his family at Monday’s book launch. Escalera is one of six children whose story inspired Building a Home. Photo by Angela O’Grady.

In September, The New Canadians Centre hosted a book launch to celebrate the release of a new book ‘Building a Home’ written and illustrated by local artist Cassandra Lee.

The book was inspired by the experiences of six immigrant children experiencing Canadian culture for the first time in Peterborough.

At the launch, the book was read to the crowd where the six young ‘authors’ beamed with pride.

For the last 12 years, Hirdes has been helping out at a local Cystic Fibrosis Benefit night. Photo Courtesy of Samantha Hirdes.

When COVID-19 put a pause on the annual Cystic Fibrosis that Samantha Hirdes volunteers at she took matters into her own hands.

She set up a website to sell her painted pumpkins, with 100 per cent of the proceeds being donated to Cystic Fibrosis Canada. When interviewing her, I asked how long it took to paint each pumpkin and she said anywhere from one to four hours - all out of the goodness of her heart!

This year Hirdes was able to donate $1,005 to Cystic Fibrosis Canada.

Dave Graham (left) had his last round of treatment on Dec. 1. Photo courtesy of Dave Graham.

When Dave Graham was diagnosed with cancer in March, he decided that something good had to come from it.

He decided to start ‘Dave’s Walk Against Cancer’ and raise funds to donate to the PRHC Foundation.

Initially his goal was to raise $5,000 and walk 7,000 steps each day until his cancer treatment was done in mid December.

On Dec. 17 PRHC Foundation announced that Dave completed his treatment and raised $11,111.

Arnold Graham (left, circa 1943) Royal Canadian Airforce (Photo courtesy of Lakefield War Vets) and current-day Graham (right) at the Buckhorn Community Centre at 95 years of age. Photo by Angela O’Grady.

I chatted with Arnold Graham over a bowl of soup at the Buckhorn Community Centre after attending a remembrance service.

He shared with me the story of his service during World War II. Graham joined the Royal Canadian Air Force when he was just 17 because he wanted to serve with his six older brothers. He eventually returned home to his mother along with all of his brothers.

Graham’s story is miraculous and I am so lucky to have heard it.

Chatting with veteran and nurse practitioner Lee-Anne Quinn was such an honour.

A woman with a lengthy list of accomplishments, Quinn did not make mention of any of them during our interview. Instead, she focused on how important it is to make a difference in other people’s lives.

2021 has been a year of meeting the best that Peterborough and the Kawarthas have to offer and I cannot wait for what 2022 has in store.

Engage with us on social media on Twitter, Instagram, Facebook and Tiktok. Write to us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Sign up for PTBOBuzz newsletter here.

61 Awesome Things About Peterborough In 2012

/

There was so much awesome about this city this year. In no particular order really, here's 61 of them (we had to cut if off somewhere)...

1. Peterborough Lakers winning the Mann Cup. Best in Canada baby!

2. Red Pashminas, which empower women locally and globally.

3. Trent's LipDub video, a great showcase for the university.

4. Doug Tilley's comedy, whether it's his "singing" or tweeting or... what's next Tilley?

5. Bandwagon episodes. Now in its 2nd season, which launched with Sloan.

6. Wild Rock celebrating 20 years in the downtown. And making the decision to stay in the downtown when they could have moved.

7. PMZ, Peterborough's TMZ celebrating local "celebrities".

8. I'd Rather Be In Peterborough tees. Community spirit.

9. Spanky's annual ping pong tourney for Movember. Spanky's offering a place to play ping pong in town.

"Call Me Maybe" 10. The city rallying behind a teenager's right to play basketball on his own driveway.

11. Philanthropy month in Peterborough showcasing all the people doing good in the community. #bethechangeptbo

12. The new downtown nightclub ARIA, which rivals Toronto's finest.

13. St. Peter's high school students dressing as superheroes during Head of the Trent regatta.

14. Peterborough Cycling Summit. Bike this city. Let's make it as bike friendly as possible.

15. Elton John concert, the one where he actually played Peterborough—not his cancelled one.

GPA EDC's Dan Taylor at Creative Cocktail16. The Peterborough Calendar Girls naked truth campaign raising awareness about the affordable housing shortage here.

17. Breakfast Television broadcasting live from Peterborough. Great coup for our city.

18. Carrie Underwood and Mike Fisher at Gerti's. (We don't believe they had the polo sandwich, but it's excellent.)

19. Carly Rae Jepsen at Musicfest. Peterborough singing "Call Me Maybe".

20. Final photo of PCVS students and staff together. This city will never forget the impact this school had, and its legacy.

21. A canoe portage in downtown Peterborough.

22. The Taste of Downtown. So much great food down there. And great folk.

23. The Dragon Boat festival.

24. The Hootenanny on Hunter. It's a hoot.Mike Watt

25. The Gilmour Street Garage Sale. Epic as always.

26. Hunter Street, one of the best streets anywhere for food, drink, shops, live music, theatre, festivals, hot dogs, great vibe.

Rick Mercer at PCVS27. Maryam's Monsef's story about how a city and school saved her life.

28. Peterborough dog pictures.

29. Rick Mercer's Rant on PCVS.

30. Rick Mercer's visit to PCVS, in video and pictures.

31. Noah Leslie—aka @pennyboynoah, who raises money for the Salvation Army Toy Drive each year.

32. Pete Dalliday's unbelievable shot. Believe it.

33. Someone canoeing on a Peterborough street. Canoe Peterborough.

34. Koski.

35. The PeterTweeter awards. Twitter's where it's at. Amazing Twitter community in town. (Follow us here.)

36. Mike Watt's how-to plaid video. Hilarious.

37. Creative Cocktails—here's the one from Market Hall.

St. Peter's superheroes38. Jonny Trash DJing at Spanky's. Best DJ around.

39. The Peterborough web series Grimwell.

40. Petes Insider, giving us the inside goods on the Petes organization.

41. The excellent Canadian Canoe Museum. We're lucky to have it. And let's move it downtown by the waterfront.

42. Electric City Live, which covers the local music scene in Peterborough. Great name, great site.

43. The Art School of Peterborough. Creativity. Imagination.

44. Mike Judson, who went homeless on the streets of Peterborough for 48 hours to raise awareness about the problem here.

Silver Bean45. Peterborough Police for serving and protecting this community, and embracing social media by joining Twitter this year.

46. Rachel Seaman and Ashley Brzozowicz, who competed in the Olympics this summer (Ashley won a silver in her sport, rowing). The tees

47. Downtown Peterborough. Embrace it. Vital. Make it sustainable. Build a city from its core.

48. Silver Bean Café, beauty spot on the river.

49. Our friends at The Wolf and Kruz FM, huge supporters of Peterborough and us. And the always smiling Carol Edwards there, who lets us in through the out door.

50. Three Loonies, for Kawartha Food Share.

51. The return of the Wire Awards. Special night at Market Hall putting spotlight on amazing music scene in Peterborough—one of the best anywhere in Canada.

52. Gallery in the truck. A moving gallery. Great concept. Love it.

53. PtboFinds and PtboProps.

54. Kawartha Turtle Trauma Centre.

55. The DBIA's new website by BrandHealth. Excellent.

56. Lois Tuffin, the news diva of Peterborough and the Kawarthas. Never shy about expressing her opinion.

57. Fleming's Student Volunteering Club, students with a sense of community pride.

58. Funny hashtags. E.g. 6,000 people went without power for a couple hours, and #ptboblackout began trending on Twitter in Peterborough. Sample tweet: "I wonder how many babies will be conceived during this blackout #ptboblackout" 

59. John Leacy's mural art around town. Gabby's wall, Spanky's wall and more.

60. Natas Cafe, the epicentre for Peterborough's amazing people.

61. All our readers and followers on Twitter and Facebook. You rock.

Here's to a great 2013!

---------------

Tip us at tips@ptbocanada.com. Follow us on Twitter @Ptbo_Canada (hashtag #bethechangeptbo) or Like us on Facebook.